THEOLOGICAL^ 


Division  .__»-''7»**'»-^-*^*' 

Section JVC&*,xaX^ 

No,„ 


7100 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arcinive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Tiieoiogicai  Seminary  Library 


http://www.arcliive.org/details/churcliesofrochOOward 


CHURCHES  OF  ROCHESTER. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 


ROCHESTER,  N.Y. 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE 

KISE,  PROGRESS,  AND  PRESENT  CONDITION 
OF  EACH  RELIGIOUS  ORGANIZATION  ; 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF 

PASTORS,  AND  OF  CLERGYMEN  BORN  IN 
THE  CITY; 

WITH   MISCELLANEOUS   ITEMS, 

FROM  AUGUST,  1815,  TO  JULY^  1871. 
Rev.  F.  DeW.  ward,  D.D., 

OF   GENESKO,   N.  Y. 


RO  CHESTER: 
rUBLTSHED  BY  ERASTU3  DARROW 

OSBURN   HOUS*  BLOCK, 

1871. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1871,  by- 

ERASTUS   DARROW, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  "Washington. 


KEPUBI.ICAN  press:   J.  W.  CLEMENT, 
GENESEO,  N.  Y. 


■htC.  SEP  1860  ). 


'% 


PREFACE, 


For  the  reason  that  religion  is  the  most  important  of 
all  subjects,  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  any  commun- 
ity surpasses  every  other  feature  in  value  and  true  in- 
terest.    ■ 

Rochester  fitly  attracts  much  attention  by  the  rapidi- 
ty of  its  growth  —  there  being  not  a  house  in  1810 
where  the  population  now  numbers  70,000  ;  by  its  emin- 
ent position  in  regard  to  several  articles  of  produc- 
tion, manufacture  and  commerce ;  but  especially  by 
the  higli'^  character  it_^early  secured,  and  has  ever  re- 
tained, for  morality  and  religion.  The  founders  of 
this  "city  of  the  wild"  brought  with  them  the  Bible, 
and  at  once  commenced  those  Sabbath  and  sanctuary 
services  (preaching,  prayer  and  sacraments)  which  had 
been  their  usage  at  their  former  homes.  Atheism, 
Infidelity, 'with  fatal  religious  heresies,  have  ever  found 
this  a  most  unwelcome  and  unfruitful  soil.  It  has 
been  the  oft  repeated  expression  that  a'religious  his- 
tory of  Rochester  be  written  to  the 'glory  of  our  com- 
mon Christianity,  and  as  a  grateful  tribute  to  those 
who,  under  God,  made  the  place  what  it  is. 

The  writer  of  the  following  work  little  anticipated 
the  time  and  labor  that  would  be  required  in  its  prep- 


IV  PREFACli. 

aration.  Whatever  success  has  attended  the  endeavor 
to  save  from  oblivion  important  annals,  and  whatever 
interest  the  reader  may  find  in  perusing  these  pages,  are 
largely  due  to  the  gentlemen  who  have  rendered  cheer- 
ful and  abundant  assistance.  But  for  such  aid  the 
narratives  had  been  meagre,  incorrect  and  unsatisfac- 
tory, whereas  there  are  now,  it  is  believed,  but  few 
mistakes,  and  the  omissions  comparatively  unimport- 
ant. The  author  presents  his  sincere  thanks  to  pres- 
ent and  former  citizens  —  clerical  and  lay  —  for  their 
many  letters  containing  facts  which  find  a  place  in 
these  chapters.  In  the  index,  credit  is  given  to  con- 
tributors—  the  biographical  sketches  being  almost  en- 
tirely by  the  author.  The  three  daily  papers  having 
obligingly  published  a  notice  many  months  ago  of 
such  a  work  in  preparation,  if  any  church  is  omitted, 
the  fault  rests  with  those  who  did  not  furnish  informa- 
tion. The  greatest  difiiculty  has  been  in  the  spelling  of 
proper  names,  especially  those  of  foreign  residents. 
Much  assistance  has  been  derived  from  C.  C.  Drew's 
admirable  Directory  for  1871,  a  copy  of  which  was 
loaned  by  a  friendly  hand. 

The  last  chapter  contains  facts  and  reminiscences  in- 
teresting to  many  persons  and  worthy  of  historical 
preservation. 

The  printer,  Mr.  James  W.  Clement,  of  Geneseo, 
and  the  publisher,  have  done  their  best  to  render  the 
volume  attractive  and  acceptable  to  the  reader. 

Were  the  writer  to  make  a  formal  dedication  of  his 
work,  it  would  be  to  the  Memory  of  the  Founders 
OF  Christian  churches  in  the  village  and  city 
OF  Rochester. 


INDEX. 


Preface 3 

Presbyterian. 

General  Introduction 11 

First Seth  H.  Terrj  ]  3 

Brick Louis    Chapin  25 

Third Dr.  HaH's  Anniversary  Sermon  32 

Central Messrs.  W.  Ailing  and  Geo.  W.  Parsons  39 

Calvary Rev.  H.  W.  Morris  48 

Saint  Peter's Kd ward  A.  Raymond  55 

"Westminster Rev.  Henry  M.  Morey  G5 

Reformed Rev.  R.  D.  Sproull  69 

First  United Rev.  James  P.  Sankey  7 1 

Episcopalian. 

Saint  Luke's Rev.  Henry  Anstice  76 

Saint  Paul's Rev.  J.  Y.  Yanlngen,  D.D.  92 

Trinity Rev.  C.  H.  W.  Stocking  101 

Christ's Rev.  Walton  W.   Battershall  112 

Good  Shepherd: Rev.  Fred.  W.  Raikes  116 

Methodist. 

All  in  one  narrative,  by  Rev.  D.  "W.  C.   Huntingdon,  D.D 119 

Baptist. 

First Wm.  X.  Sage  133 

Second D.   R.  Barton  140 

German Rev.  Earnest  Tschirch  144 

CONGREGATIONA  L. 

First Samuel  D.  Porter  149 

Free  Church O'Reilly's  History  150 

Plymouth Erastus  Darrow  151 


Vi  INDEX. 

Single  Churches. 

Zion's  First  Bvangolical  Lutheran Rev.  F.  YonRosenberg  159 

German  United  Evangelical Rev.  Charles  SiebenpfeifFer  158 

First  German  Evangelical  Association Rev.  Michael  Lehn  160 

First  English  Lutheran Rev.  Reuben  Hill  161 

Evangelical  Reformed  Emanuel Rochester  Director/  162 

Evangelical  Saint  Paul's "  "  162 

First  Reformed  (Dutch) Rev.  P.  Bahler  163 

First  Universalist Rev.  George  Montgomery  164 

First  Unitarian D.  L.  Crittenden  165 

Roman  Catholic Catholic  and  City  Directories  167 

Friends O'Reilly  and  Directory  169 

Jews Directory  170 

Second  Advent Directory  170 

Young  Men  and  the  Ministry 173 

Miscellany. 

Preferments  of  Rochester  Pastors   176 

Long  Pastorates 177 

Desirable  Changes  of  Use 177 

Revivals 178 

The  Bible 179 

Foreign  Missions 180 

Tracts  and  Books 180 

Sabbath   Schools ISO 

Temperance 181 

Fires 182 

Benevolent  and  Christian  Iiisiilutions. ...    183 

University  of  Rochester 183 

Rochester  Theological  Seminary 184 

Rapid  Church    Erection 184 

Fall  of  a  Steeple 184 


Explanations,  Errata,  and  Additions, 

Which  lieadtrs  are  requested  to  notice  as  they  peruse  the  Volume. 


It  was  originally  intended  to  embody  in  this  work  biographical  sketches  of 
pioneer  citizens  who  have  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  organizing 
and  establishing  the  various  churches.  Limited  room  and  diiBculty  of  se- 
lection have  rendered  unadvisable  this  interesting  feature.  Such  narratives 
would  form  in  themselves  a  valuable  and  welcome  volume.  The  1,500  dif- 
ferent persons  herein  named  include  most  of  the  early  christian  comers. 

Sabbath  Schools. — In  addition  to  the  statements  on  page  180,  the  fol- 
lowing, furnished  by  Louis  Chapin,  Esq.,  are  of  great  historic  value:  "In 
1870  Rochester  had  50  Protestant  Sunday  schools,  1,353  teachers,  12,410 
scholars,  with  an  average  attendance  of  8,GT4.  During  that  year,  429  per- 
sons connected  with  these  Sunday  schools,  united  with  the  various  cliurches 
on  profession  of  their  faith." 

First  Presbyterian*. — Add  to  "  Summary,"  the  names  of  Elders  R.  M 
Dalzel,  E.  "W.  Armstrong,  Jf  .D.,  and  John  "W.  Adams.  Also,  Dr.  Penney  not 
Penny,  Glasgow  not  Glascow,  font  not  fount. 

Third  Presbtteriax. — Died,  in  Rochester,  Sept.  10,  1871,  Rev.  A.  G. 
Hall,  D.D  ,  the  pastor  for  thirty-one  years  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  church. 

"  Servant  of  Christ— well  done— 
Keet  from  thy  loved  employ.'' 

Saint  Peter's,  Presbyterian. — A  chime  of  nine  bells  placed  in  the  towe^" 
in  ISGO,  were  melted  in  the  fire  of  1868,  but  replaced  by  a  chime  of  twelve 
bells  upon  rebuilding  the  structure.  Page  59,  fourth  line  from  top,  for  Rev. 
Dr.  Hall  read  Rev.  W.  H.  Green,  D.D.,  of  Princeton,  N.  J,  Page  61,  third 
line  from  bottom,  for  Chicago  read  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


Viii         EXPLANATIONS,  EREATA,  AND   ADDITIONS. 

Saint  Luke's,  Episcopal.— Page  83,  eighteenth  line  from  top,  for  "early 
decree,"  read  ''academic  degree."  Wardens  in  succession — Nathaniel  Roch- 
ester, 1817-19  ;  Samuel  L  Andrews,  '17-20  ;  Geo.  G.  Sill,  '20  ;  William  At- 
kinson, '20-22  ;  J.  Mastick,  '22-6  ;  "W,  Pitkin,  '27-66  ;  S.  0,  Smith,  '28-33  ; 
V.  Matthews,  '34-46 ;  N.  T.  Rochester,  '47-58,  and  'G6-68  ;  W.  Brewster, 
1859,  and  G.  H.  Perkins  from  1869.  Vestrymen  have  been  from  almost  all 
the  leading  members.  Clerks  of  Vesiry—U.  Babbitt,  1817-21  ;  N.  T.  Roch- 
ester, '21-33,  and  '35-43 ;,H.  E.  Rochester, '32-33  and  '44;  E.  D.  Smith,  '34; 
T.  C.  Montgomery,  '45-54;  P.  A.  Whittlesey,  '55-56  and  '62  ;  J.  A.  Eastman, 
'57-61 ;  P.  W.  Garfield,  '63-64  ;  E.  A.  Frost,  '65  ;  R.  H.  Rochester,  '65-66  ; 
J.  P.  Humphrey,  '66  ;  Allen  Ayrault,  H.  L.  Churchill,  '67-69  ;  W.Eastwood, 
'70;  T.  Raines,  '71.  Tz-easurers—R.  Babbitt,  '17-21;  N.  T.  Rochester,  '22- 
32;  W.  Pitkin,  '32-36;  P.  Whittlesey,  '36-39;  C.  Morse,  '39-44;  L  M.  Fish, 
'44;  H.  Scranton,  '45-48  ;  A.  J.  Brackett,  '49-54  ;  E.  Whalen,  '55-62  ;  A. 
Karnes,  '62-65  ;  E.  R.  Hammatt,  '65  (These  were  reluctantly  left  out  iu 
the  following  narrative  for  want  of  space  in  that  position). 

First  Baptist. — Page  135,  for  Geo.  Davison  read  Geo.  Dawson,  and  for 
Richard  M.  Scott  read  Richard  M.  Nott.  Page  138,  for  Ezra  Owen  read  Ezra 
Zeburn.  Treasurer,  E.  T.  Oatley.  This  church  has  a  flourishing  out-station 
entitled  The  Rapids  Mission  chapel,  which  promises  an  useful  future  to  the 
southern  part  of  the  city. 

Secoxd  Baptist. — In  1870  this  church  es.ablished  a  mission  and  bnilt  a 
handsome  and  commodious  chapel  on  the  corner  of  East  avenue  and  Anson 
Park,  at  a  cost  of  $18,000  ;  the  lot  cost  $5,000.  It  is  named  Bethlehem  Mis- 
sion. A  Sabbath  school  of  250  scholars,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr. 
J.  S.  Phillips,  meet  in  the  chapel  on  the  Sabbath,  and  a  meeting  for  worship 
is  held  on  Tuesday  evening. 

Aristarchus  Champion,  Usq.,  whose  name  often  appears  in  the  following 
pages,  died  in  Rochester  on  the  18th  of  September,  1871,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety  years.  A  native  of  Connecticut,  he  had  made  his  home  in  this 
place  since  1826.  He  possessed  abundant  wealth,  which  he  devoted  largely 
to  the  cause  of  morality  and  religion. 


PRESBYTERIAN 


GENERAL  INTKODUCTION. 


Ill  tlie  spring  of  1813,  the  population  of  Rochester 
(then  a  part  of  the  town  of  Gates),  consisted  of  about 
eight  or  ten  families.  As  late  as  January  of  that 
year  heathen  worship  was  celebrated,  and  for  the 
last  time,  by  the  Seneca  Indians,  on  the  occasion  of 
their  annual  feast.  This  occurred  on  the  spot  where 
the  Erie  canal  intersects  with  South  Washington 
street,  at  the  north-west  corner,  where  the  old  Bethel 
church  stood.  The  public  worship  of  God  on  the 
Sabbath  was  then  first  held  at  the  instance  of  Mrs. 
Hamlet  Scrantom  and  Mrs.  Wheelock,  "women  of 
faith  and  prayer,"  who  obtained  from  Mr.  Jeliiel  Bar- 
nard permission  to  use  the  upper  story  of  his  tailor 
shop  on  Buffalo  street  for  that  purpose.  This  shop 
stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  street,  and  not  far  east 
from  State  street,  a  little  west  of  the  present  entrance 
to  the  "Arcade."  The  room  for  worship  was  twenty- 
two  feet  long  and  fourteen  wide.  Mr.  Barnard  (who 
subsequently  married  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Scrantom, 
and  whose  marriage  was  the  first  one  celebrated  in 
Rochester)  and  Mr.  Warren  Brown  conducted  the 
meetings,  the  exercises  of  which  were  extempore 
prayer,  singing,  and  reading  a  sermon. 


12  CHURCHES    OF    KOCHESTER. 

After  some  months  the  Rev.  Daniel  Brown,  a 
Baptist  minister  of  Pitts'ord,  and  Rev.  Reuben  Par- 
melee,  a  Presbyterian  minister  of  Victor,  came  occa- 
sionally and  preached  to  the  people,  who  were  then 
worshipping  in  the  lower  room  of  Mr.  Barnard's 
building,  used  also  as  a  school  room.  From  that 
time  down  to  August,  1815,  there  was  but  one  place  of 
worship  for  all  denominations  —  first,  Mr.  Barnard's 
shop  ;  and  afterwards,  as  early  as  May,  1814,  a  small 
school  house  (then  just  built)  on  the  spot  where  now 
stands  the  Free  Academy. 

The  first  movement  for  separation  was  made  in 
August,  1815.  This  se|)aration  was  amicable,  and 
those  of  different  religious  tenets  assisted  each  other 
afterwards  in  the  building  of  their  original  houses  of 
worship,  and  in  the  support  of  a  preached  gospel. 


«tC.  SEP  IbbO 


I'HsoLuaic;. 


A  1  i  A  ** 


FIRST  CHURCH. 


The  Presbjteiy  of  Geneva,  shortly  piior  to  August 
22,  1815,  appointed  a  committee,  to  meet  at  Rochester 
(then  a  part  of  Gates)  on  the  day  last  named,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  expHdiency  of  forming  a  church. 
The  committee  consisted  of  Rev.  T)ani?l  Fullar  and 
Rev.  Reuben  Paimelee,  ministers ;  Deacon  Samuel 
Stone  and  Deacon  Isaac  B.  Barnum,  elders.  They 
convened  on  the  day  appointed.  Rev.  Eleazer  Fair- 
banks and  Rev.  Comfort  Williams  being  present,  were 
invited  to  sit  in  council.  Rev.  Mr.  Fullar  was  chosen 
moderator,  and  Rev.  Mr  Parmelee  scribe. 

'•Articles  of  Faith,"  fourteen  in  number  ;  "Articles 
of  Practice,"  twelve  in  number;  and  a  "Covenant," 
were  submitted  and  adopted  by  Oliver  Gibbs,  Daniel 
West,  Henry  Donelly,  Elisha  Ely,  Warren  Brown, 
Charles  Magne,  Aaron  Lay,  Jane  Gibbs,  Elizabeth 
West,  Hannah  Donelh',  Hannah  Ely,  Huldah  Stod- 
dard, Poll}^  Magne,  Sarah  Lay,  Sybil  Bickford,  Ara- 
bella Starks,  who,  having  prof(»ssed  their  faith  accord- 
ing to  said  articles  and  entered  into  said  covenant, 
were  constituted  into  a  regular  church  of  Christ. 

Oliver  Gibbs  and  Daniel  AVest  were  chosen  elders, 
with  the  designation  of  deacons  ;  and  AVarrt^n  Brov.n 


14  CHrECIIE-S   OF   ROCHESTEK. 

and  Henry  Donelly  were  chosen  elders.  These  men 
were  ordained  and  set  apart  to  their  offices  by  prayer 
and  a  charge  agreeably  to  the  Directory  of  the  Pres- 
bj^terian  church.  The  population  of  Rochester  was 
then  331. 

Of  the  original  members  of  the  church,  one  only, 
Mrs.  Polly  Magne,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  is  now  living. 

Rev.  Comfort  Williams  was  installed  as  first  pastor, 
January  17,  1816,  in  an  unfinished,  store  on  Carroll 
(now  State)  street ;  the  ministers  officiating  being  Rev. 
Messrs.  A.  C.  Collins,  J.  Merrill,  E.  Fitch,  D.D.,  Wm. 
Clark,  R.  Parmelee,  J.  H.  Hotchkin,  and  F.  Pomeroy 
—  all  deceased.  Such  was  the  sparseness  of  the  pop- 
ulation that  a  meeting  of  the  church  could  not  be  reg- 
ularly convened  unless  "notice  had  been  sent  to  set- 
tlements on  the  ridge  in  Gates  and  in  the  east  part  of 
Brighton."  After  a  pastorate  of  nearly  four  years, 
Mr.  Williams  resigned.  May  11,  1821,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Joseph  Penny,  who  was  installed 
April  3,  1823,  holding  the  position  with  marked  abili- 
ty and  acceptance  till  April  16,  1833,  when  at  his  own 
request  the  pastorate  relation  was  dissolved. 

The  records  of  the  church  contain  the  following  en- 
try :  "Note. — Public  worship  was  constantly  main- 
tained and  kept  up  from  the  dismission  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Williams  until  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Penny.  It  was 
so  directed  by  Divine  Providence  that  there  was 
preaching  every  Sabbath  during  the  whole  time,  ex- 
cepting two  whole  and  two  half  days,  at  which  times 
service  was  attended  and  sermons  read.  So  certain  of 
having  preaching  did  some  individuals  feel  as  not  to 
have  doubts  about  it  when  no  minister  had  come  so 


CHURCHES  OF  EOOHESTER.  15 

late  as  Saturday  night,  and  though  they  had  heard  of 
none  that  was  expected.  So  careful  was  a  most  mer- 
ciful Redeemer  to  take  care  and  feed  the  little  flock, 
which  was  not  only  seemingly  without  a  teacher,  but 
encompassed  with  great  difficulties,  dangers  and  dis- 
tresses, both  from  within  and  without." 

Rev.  Tryon  Edwards  was  installed  pastor  July  2, 
1834,  and  was  succeeded,  May  19,  1845,  by  Rev.-  Mal- 
com  N.  McLaren,  D.D.,  whom  ill  health  compelled  to 
resign  in  two  years,  when  Rev.  Joshua  H,  Mcllvaine, 
D.D.,  assumed  the  pastorate,  and  was  followed  (May, 
1861)  by  Rev.  Calvin  Pease,  D.D.,  whose  lamented 
death  occurred  in  Vermont,  September  17,  1863.  The 
charge  was  then  assumed  by  Rev.  Caspar  M.  Wines, 
who  held  the  same  from  May  22,  1866,  to  July,  1868, 
when  he  removed  to  the  east,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  L.  Robertson,  the  present  incumbent,  who  was 
installed  the  eighth  pastor,  September  15,  1870,  and 
who  is  laboring  with  much  efficiency  and  success 
among  an  attached  people. 

The  original  church  edifice  —  a  plain  wooden  build- 
ing standing  on  piers — ^was  erected  on  State  (tlien 
Carroll)  street,  where  is  now  Hamilton's  block.  To 
meet  the  demands  of  a  rapidly  increasing  population 
and  multiplying  Sabbath  assemblage,  a  lot  was  se- 
cured in  the  rear  of  the  court  house,  where  was  erect- 
ed a  stone  structure  of  ample  and  attractive  appear- 
ance, which  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God 
October  28,  1824.  A  discourse  preached  upon  the 
occasion  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  Joseph  Penny,  D.D., 
attracted  much  attention,  and  was  widely  circulated 
over  the  land.     Repeated  enlargements  and  improve- 


16  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

ments  were  made  in  the  building,  until  it  was  so  much 
injured  by  a  fire  that  entire  reconstruction  became  an  • 
imperative  necessity.  Before  this  occurrence,  the 
lecture  room  on  the  east  side  of  the  edifice  had  been 
removed,  and  one  of  large  size  and  architectural 
beauty  erected  on  the  west  side.  The  ground,  being 
greatl}^  needed  for  public  purposes,  was  sold  to  the 
city,  and  a  lot  has  been  purchased  on  the  corner  of 
Plymouth  avenue  and  Spring  street,  upon  which  a 
new  edifice  is  in  course  of  erection,  the  corner-stone 
having  been  laid  witli  appropriate  services. 

The  "old  First"  has  a  history  of  rare  interest. 
Sermons  of  great  power  have  been  preached,  and 
scenes  of  surpassing  importance  have  been  witnessed, 
within  its  walls.  Of  many  now  on  earth,  and  more  in 
the  heavenly  world,  may  it  be  said,  "This  and  that 
man  was  born  there."  jSTever  will  that  spot  be  forgot- 
ten by  the  many  who  there  made  for  the  first  time 
public  profession  of  their  faith  in  Jesus  ;  there  received 
their  first  communion  ;  there  brought  their  children  to 
the  baptismal  fount ;  and  there  listened  to  funeral 
discourses  commemorating  the  lost  of  heart  and  home. 
An  historian  may  not  indulge  in  sentiment,  therefore 
the  writer  must  refrain  from  expressing  emotions 
awakened  by  what  that  building  has  been  to  him  and 
his  for  two  score  years. 

We  pass  from  the  building  with  its  deeply  interest- 
ing associations  to  notice  the 

PASTORS   OF   THE    FIRST. 

Rev.  Comfort  Williams  was  a  native  of  Wethers-    ' 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  17' 

field,  Conn.;  graduated  at  Yale  and  Andover ;  com- 
menced his  ministry  at  Ogdensburgli,  N.  Y.,  lemoving 
to  tins  (then)  village,  and  took  the  pastoral  charge  of 
this  church  January  17,  1816  (the  sermon  being, 
preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Fitch,  first  president  of  Wil- 
liams college,  Mass.),  being  dismissed,  at  his  own  re- 
quest, May  11,  1821.  To  be  the  first  religious  instruct- 
or in  a  community  like  this  is  to  occupy  a  position  of 
special  honor  and  responsibility.  The  name  of  • '  Parson 
Williams''  lives  in  but  few  living  memories,  for  pastor 
and  people  have,  with  few  exceptions,  gone  to  their- 
eternal  rest.  A  street  on  the  east  side  of  the  river 
(Comfort  street)  ])erpetuates  his  name  and  home.  A 
son,  Charles  H,  Williams,  still  resides  in  the  city. 

Rev.  Joseph  Penny,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Ireland:, 
educated  in  Dublin  and  Glascow  ;  migrated  to  this 
country,  accompanied  by  Rev.  John  Mulligan,  in 
1819  ;  resided  a  brief  time  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.;  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  this  church  April  3,  1822;  resigned 
April  10,  1833 ;  assumed  charge  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational church  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  from  which 
he  soon  passed  to  the  presidency  of  Hamilton  college, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  four  years.  After  a  tempo- 
rary residence  at  Nyack,  N.  Y.,  and  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.,  Dr.  Penny  returned  to  this  city,  and  after  years 
of  intense  suffering  from  a  nervous  affection  (during 
which  period  his  wife  and  her  sister.  Miss  Sterling, 
both  died),  he  "fell  asleep  in  Jesus"  March  22,  1860, 
and  lies  entombed  on  Mount  Hope,  beside  many  mem- 
bers of  his  cherished  household.  Of  masculine  intel- 
lect, large  scholastic  attainments,  commanding  pres- 
ence, a  warm  Irish  heart,  and  unusual  facility  of  con- 


18  CHUECnES   OF   EOCHESTER. 

versation,  Dr.  Penii}^  has  left  an  ineffaceable  impress- 
ion upon  this  conimunit}^  and  region.  Whatever 
aimed  to  advance  the  people,  intellectually  as  well  as 
religiously,  received  his  cordial  sympathy  and  earnest 
cooperation.  His  p)ortrait,  purchased  by  public  con- 
tribution, graces  the  Athenseum,  of  which  valued  in- 
stitution (under  its  original  title  of  the  "Franklin 
Institute")  he  vvas  a  leading  projector.  When  he 
assumed  the  presidency  of  Hamilton  college,  gentle- 
men of  this  city  became  responsible  for  his  salary  for 
ten  years.  His  published  discourses  —  entited  "The 
House  of  Mirth,"  "Address  at  the  Laying  of  the 
Corner-stone  of  the  First  Church,"  "Dedication  Dis- 
courses," "Fourth  of  July  Oration,"  and  "Instal- 
lation of  Rev.  Messrs.  Ward  and  Cherry  as  Mission- 
aries to  India' '  —  are  models  of  thought  and  expression, 
indicating  power  and  cultivation.  His  early,  life-long 
and  gifted  friend,  Mr.  Mulligan,  was  for  a  consider- 
able period  one  of  tlie  "most  popular  teachers  in  western 
New  York,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1860,  was 
principal  of  a  large  seminary  at  the  metropolis.  The 
life  career  of  these  gifted  sons  of  Erin  began,  contin- 
ued and  ended  almost  simultaneously.  "In  death 
they  were  not  divided." 

Rev.  Tryon  Edwards,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Conn. ;  graduated  at  Yale  and  Princeton,  and  became 
third  pastor  of  the  First  church  July  2, 1834.  Resign- 
ing in  1844,  he  removed  to  New  London,  Conn. , and  min- 
istered to  a  large  Congregational  society,  from  which 
place  he  removed  to  Hagerstown,  Md.,  where  he  still 
resides,  holding  at  the  same  time  the  presidency  of  the 
Wilson  Female  seminary,  having  been  active  in  its  es- 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  19 

tablisliment  and  prosperity.  Enjoying  and  improving 
the  advantages  of  our  best  seminaries  of  litcM-atnre  and 
theology,  with  a  mind  well  and  successful!}"  trained 
to  habits  of  thought  and  expression,  his  discourses 
(especially  a  series  addressed  to  young  men),  coupled 
with  courteous  manners  out  of  the  pulpit,  made  him 
popular  while  a  resident  here,  and  will  give  him  a  long 
continued  place  in  the  memory  of  those  who  attended 
his  ministry  and  enjoyed  his  acquaintance  during  his 
ten  years  pastorate  of  this  churcli. 

Rev.  Malcolm  N.  McLaren,  D.D.,  a  native  of  Al- 
bany, N.  Y. ;  graduated  at  Union  and  Princeton,  and 
after  ministering  in  several  j)laces,  came  to  Rochester 
in  1845 ;  after  two  years  pastorate  he  resigned  to  as- 
sume charge  of  a  Dutch  Reformed  church  at  Brooklyn, 
which  he  subsequently  left  and  removed  to  Newburgh, 
from  whence  he  came  to  Caledonia,  where  he  now 
miuisters  to  a  large  and  important  community. 
Wherever  located,  Dr.  McLaren  has  alwaj's  com- 
manded universal  respect  for  superior  qualities,  in  and 
out  of  the  pulpit;  securing  attention  to  the  truth  by 
clear  and  eloquent  exhibition  of  doctrine  and  duty, 
heightened  in  effect  by  marked  courtesy  of  manner, 
and  a  warm  heart. 

Rev.  Joshua  H.  Mcllvaine.  D.D.,  was  born  in  Del- 
aware ;  studied  at  Princeton  college  and  seminary ; 
was  pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  church  at  Little  Falls, 
then  at  Utica  (Westminster) ;  coming  to  Rochester 
April  23,  1848,  where  he  presided  over  the  First  with 
great  ability  till  his  removal  to  the  chair  of  Political 
Economy  and  Rhetoric  in  his  aJma  maier,  which  he 
has  recently  left  to  become  pastor  of  the  High  Street 


20  CHURCHES   OF    ROCHESTEK, 

church  at  Newark,  N.  J.  In  native  talents,  studious 
investigation,  thorough  scholarship,  nervous  express- 
ion, and  pulpit  power.  Dr.  Mcllvaine  has  few  equals 
among  the  thinkers,  students,  authors  and  preacht^rs 
of  the  land  or  age.  He  is  in  middle  life,  and  has  be- 
fore him  a  hopeful  future  of  honor  and  usefulness. 

Rev.  Calvin  Pease,  D.D.,  was  of  New  England  ori- 
gin, his  i)arents  being  of  Puritan  faith,  tradition  and 
habits.  The  place  of  his  birth  was  Canaan,  Conn., 
and  his  scholastic  graduation  at  the  University  of 
Vermont,  of  which  institution  he  subsequently  became 
professor  and  president.  In  May,  18G1,  he  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  this  church,  liolding  the  position 
with  increasing  popularity  and  enlarging  usefulness 
until  his  lamented  death,  when  on  a  visit  to  Burling- 
ton, on  the  17th  of  September,  1863.  Says  an  intimate 
acquaintance,  "In  him,  as  I  think,  Vermont  has  lost 
her  ablest  man,  one  who  combined  the  highest,  most 
exact  and  critical  scholarship,  the  most  liberal  and 
far-reaching  views,  the  greatest  practical  ability  with 
an  intuitive  perception  of  the  characteristic  qualities 
of  men  he  came  in  contact  with."  These  traits  were 
happily  illustrated  during  his  brief  but  memorable 
pastorate  here.  A  committee  was  sent  to  represent 
the  church  at  the  funeral,  and  testimonials  of  affection 
were  presented  to  the  widow  and  her  family.  The 
death  of  Dr.  Pease  was  no  common  affliction,  and  his 
returnless  absence  no  common  loss  to  this  city  and 
region. 

Rev.  CasjDar  Maurice  Wines,  son  of  E.  C.  Wines, 
D.D.,  widely  and  favorably  known  in  connection  with 
prison  reform,  Avas  born  in  Philadelphia,  educated  at 


CHURCHES   OF   KOCHESTEK.  21 

Washington  College,  Pennsylvania,  and  Princeton 
Theological  Seminaiy.  After  temporary  ministrations 
in  Jersey  City  and  Newburgh,  he  became  pastor  of 
the  First  church  March  22,  1866,  which  position  he 
held  for  two  years  with  much  ability.  He  has  since 
preached  to  congregations  at  Brookline,  Mass.,  and  is 
now  pastor  of  a  church  in  Hartford,  Conn. 

Rev.  James  L.  Robertson  was  born  at  Steubenville, 
Ohio,  of  Scotch  parents  ;  23ursued  his  classical  studies 
at  Northwood,  Ohio  (Ref.  Pres.  Coll.,  now  extinct), 
and  theological  in  Allegheny,  Pa.  Having  been  li- 
censed by  the  Presbj^tery  of  Steubenville,  he  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  from  which  he 
passed  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Second  Presbyte- 
rian church  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  thence  to  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  of  Rochester,  over  which 
he  was  installed  pastor  December  7,  1870. 

ELDEES    AND    DEACOXS. 

The  following  have  been  elected  and  ordained  elders 
of  the  church.  The  dates  of  their  ordination  are 
given  : 

August  22, 1815 — Oliver  Gibbs,  Daniel  West,  Warren 
Brown,  Henry  Donnelly. 

July  7,  1816— Azel  Ens  worth. 

August  4,  1822 — Jacob  Gould,  Levi  Ward,  Jr. 

July  18,  1824— Russell  Green,  Moses  Chapin,  Sal- 
mon Scoiield. 

January  27,  1828— Charles  J.  Hill,  Frederick  Starr. 

April  21,  1833 — Ashley  Sampson,  James  K.  Living- 
ston. 


22  CHURCHES   OF   KOClIESTEll, 

April  29, 1839 — Charles  W.  Dan  das,  Marcus  Holmes. 

August  2,  1846— Robert  M.  Dalzell,  Eben  N.  Buell. 

June  10,  1849 — Edward  W.  Armstrong,  Charles 
Church,  Thomas  Kempshall. 

May  20,  1855— John  W.  Adams,  James  S.  Tryon, 
George  Dutton. 

February  25,  18G3— Oliver  M.  Benedict,  Seth  H. 
Terry. 

January  8,  1871— William  Burke,  Seth  II.  Terry, 
Charles  J.  Hayden,  Oscar  Craig. 

Of  the  above  there  are  still  living,  Mr.  Hill,  who  is 
now  a  member  of  Plymouth  Congregation  church  in 
this  city  ;  Mr.  Livingston,  who  lives  at  Newark,  N.  J. ; 
Mr.  Dundas,  at  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Mr.  Tryon,  at  Hart- 
ford, Conn.;  Mr.  Buell,  in  Rochester;  besides  Messrs. 
Dalzell,  Armstrong,  Adams,  Benedict,  Terry,  Burke, 
Hayden,  and  Craig,  who  are  the  present  acting  elders. 
Mr.  Craig  is  clerk  of  the  session. 

The  following  have  been  elected  and  ordained  Dea- 
cons of  the  church : 

August  22,  1815— Oliver  Gibbs,  Daniel  West. 

August  4,  1822— Levi  Ward,  Jr. 

February  2,  1859 — John  G.  Dabney,  William  Burke. 

January  8,  1871— John  T.  Fox,  James  F.  Baker. 

THE   SABBATH   SCHOOL   SUPERHSTTENDENTS 

Have  been,  from  1817  to  1820,  inclusive,  Messrs. 
Elisha  Ely,  Everard  Peck,  David  AV.  Allen,  John  H. 
Thompson,  Ashley  Sampson,  and  Josiah  Bissell,  Jr. 

1827  to  1829— Charles  J.  Hill. 

1829  to  1831— Ashley  Sampson. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  23 

1831  to  1833— Charles  J.  Hill. 

1834  to  1336— Walter  S.  Griffith. 

1837  to  1852— L.  A.  Ward. 

1852  to  1856— John  N.  Pomeroy. 

1856. to  1858— John  W.  Adams. 

1858  to  1862— Rev.  J.  H.  Mcllvaine,  D.D. 

1862  to  1868—0.  M.  Benedict. 

1868  to  present  time — George  C.  Buell. 

MINISTERS  AND   MISSIONARIES   FROM   THIS   CHURCH. 

Jonathan  S.  Green,  S.  Islands. 

F.  DeW.  WaTd,-D.D.,  India;  Geneseo. 
Henry  Cherry,  India  ;  South. 

T.  Dwight  Hunt,  S.  Islands ;  California. 

James  Ballantine,  Rochester. 

L.  Merrill  Miller,  D.D.,  Ogdensburgh, 

Henry  E.  Peck,  deceased. 

Charles  G.  Lee,  deceased. 

Frederick  M.  Starr,  deceased. 

Everard  Kempshall,  D.D.,  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

William  N.  McCoun. 

Charles  R.  Clarke,  San  Diego. 

Henry  B.  Chapin,  Ph.  D.,  New  York  City. 

Robert  Proctor. 

George  Dutton,  deceased. 

M.  L.  R.  P.  Hill,  Gloversville,  N.  Y. 

G.  Parsons  Nichols,  Milwaukee. 

Henry  A.  DeForest,  M.D.,  Syria,  deceased. 

Mrs.  DeForest,  Syria. 

Mr?.  Delia  Stone  Bishop,  S.  Islands. 

Mr?.  Maria  AVard  Chapin  Smith,  Syria,  deceaseds 


"24  ClIUKCHES    OF    ROCHESTEK. 

SUMMc±'Rr,  JULT  /,  /87f. 

Pastor — Rev.  James  L.  Robertson. 

Elders— OliWQTlsL  Benedict  Setlill.  Teny,  William 
Burke,  Charles  J.  Hayden,  and  Oscar  Craig  (clerk  of 
:session). 

Deacons — Joslina  T.  Fox  and  James  Baker. 

Sabho.th  Scliool  Superintendent — George  C.  Buell. 

SahhatJt  ScJtool  Pupils— 27o. 

Comm  un  Icants— 475. 


SECOND  (OK  BRICK)  CHURCH. 


This  Society  was  organized  November  18tli,  1825, 
Tvitli  twenty-five  members,  of  whom  three  only  are  now 
living,  viz:  Anrelia  Gorsline  (still  a  communicant), 
Derick  Sibley  (residing  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio),  and 
Seth  Case  (at  Grlenbula,  Wisconsin).  The  first  place 
of  worship  was  a  frame  building  on  the  west  side  of 
(Carroll,  now)  State  street.  A  brick  structure  on  the 
corner  of  Fitzhugh  and  (Ann,  now)  Allen  streets  was 
completed  in  1828,  which  was  used  till  April  1st,  1860, 
when  it  was  closed  with  appropriate  and  impressive 
exercises,  its  place  being  taken  by  the  present  commo- 
dious edifice,  which  was  dedicated  June  30th,  1861  ; 
the  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev.  Samuel  Fisher, 
D.D.,  then  President  of  Hamilton  College. 

The  corporate  name  of  ihe  church  was  changed 
November  10,  1833,  from  the  "Second"  to  the  "Brick 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Rochester,"  and  so  reported 
to  Presbytery  February,  1834. 

A  Sunday  School  was  organized  at  an  early  period, 
but  no  records  are  to  be  found  prior  to  1827,  at  which 
time  there  were  seven  teachers  and  thirty-nine  scholars 
with  a  library  of  eight  bound  volumes  and  a  few  tracts. 

In  August,  1844,  when  the  Washington  street  (now 


26  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

the  Central)  church,  needed  and  asked  help,  fifteen 
valuable  members  of  the  Brick,  mostly  with  families, 
responded  to  the  call  and  joined  them.     Upon  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Plymouth  (Congregational)  church, 
in  1855,  thirteen  communicants  went  there. 

This  church  has  been  blessed  with  frequent  revi- 
vals, which  added  to  its  membership,  between  1826  and 
1870,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  upon 
profession  of  their  faith.  The  largest  additions  were 
in  1831,  100  ;  1832,  208  ;  1834,  200  ;  1843,  118  ;  1844, 
83  ;  1837,  111  ;  1861,  68  ;  1864,  67;  1862,  207  ;  1869,  74. 

A  memorial  chapel  is  now  erecting  by  members  of" 
this  parish  on  the  corner  of  Hudson  and  Wilson  streets, 
at  an  outlay  of  810,000  or  more. 

PASTORS. 

The  first  pastor,  Rev.  "William  James,  D.D.,  was 
born  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1807  ;  graduated  at  Prince- 
ton, N  J.,  college  and  Theological  seminary;  preached 
for  a  brief  time  at  Clarkson,  X.  Y. ;  assumed  the  pas- 
torate of  the  Brick  church,  April,  1826,  and  resigned 
in  1830  ;  became  for  a  few^  months  pastor  of  the  Third 
Presbyterian  church  of  Albany,  N".  Y,,  and,  after  a 
protracted  illness,  died  in  his  native  city  on  the  15th 
of  February,  1868.  Among  his  last  utterances  w^ere 
these  :  "  It  is  all  j  oy— j  oy— j  oy  1 "  "  My  faith  is  per- 
fect, is  perfect."  "The  other  side  is  all  sunshine."  "I 
am  ready  to  shout  at  the  vision  of  the  exceeding  glo- 
ry." "Nothing  is  so  precious  to  me  as  that  Christ 
died  for  us."  For  richness  of  thought,  and  power  of 
expression,  and  eloquence  of  utterance,  Dr.  James  has. 


CnURCIIES   OF   ROCHESTER.  27 

had  few  equals  among  the  pulpit  orators  of  the  land. 
His  published  discourses,  entitled  the  "Debt  of  nationa 
to  Christianity"  and  "The  Moral  responsibility  of  the 
American  nation,"  were  delivered  in  this  city,  and  are 
well  entitled  to  preservation  in  print. 

During  the  year  following  the  resignation  of  Dr. 
James  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Daniel  N. 
Merrit,  and  Rev.  F,  DeW.  Ward,  then  under  appoint- 
ment as  a  missionary  to  India, 

The  second  pastor,  Rev.  Wm.  Wisner,  D.D.,  was 
born  at  Warwick,  N.  Y.,  commenced  the  practice  of 
law,  and,  after  a  course  of  private  instruction,  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel.  His  first  pastorate 
was  at  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  which  he  left  to  take  charge  of 
the  Brick  church  in  this  city.  Arriving  here  in  1831, 
he  remained  four  years,  when  he  went  to  St.  Louis, 
but  soon  returned  to  his  early  home  in  Ithaca,  and 
closed  a  long,  honored  and  useful  life  at  Cedar  Rap- 
ids, Iowa,  Januar}^  7,  1861.  During  his  pastorate  of 
this  church,  a  debt  of  $14,000  was  paid  ;  the  edifice 
underwent  extensive  repairs  ;  the  membership  largely 
increased,  his  able  and  faithful  ministrations  being 
crowned  with  abundant  success.  Dr.  AVisner  and  his 
son,  Dr.  W.  C.  Wisner,  of  Lockport,  have  both  been 
Moderators  of  General  Assembly. 

The  third  pastor  was  Rev.  George  Beecher,  son  of 
the  late  Rev.  Lyman  Beecher,  D.D.,  who  was  installed 
June  28,  1838,  and  resigned  October  6,  1840.  He  then 
removed  to  Chilicothe,  Ohio,  wiiere  he  accidentally 
shot  himself,  July  1,  1843.  His  memoirs  have  been 
written  by  his  sister. 

Fourth  in  the  pastorate  of  this  church  is  the  present 


28  CHURCHES   OF   EOCHESTEPw. 

incumbent,  Rev,  James  Boylen  Shaw,  D.D.  Born  in 
New  York  city,  lie  became  a  member  of  the  Brick 
church  (now  on  Murray  Hill).  He  was  one  of  the  first 
children  upon  whose  head  the  venerable  Dr.  Spring 
laid  his  hands  in  baptism.  Upon  completing  a  class- 
ical education  in  his  native  city,  and  theological  at 
Auburn,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Attica,  from  whence  he  removed  to  this  city  in  De- 
cember, 1840.  For  thirty-one  years  has  Dr.  Shaw  pros- 
ecuted his  ministry  here  with  a  fidelity  and  success 
seldom  equalled.  He  has  seen  results  of  his  labors  far 
beyond  what  is  usually  permitted  to  the  most  favored. 
He  was  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1865, 
at  Brooklyn,  having  been  elected  by  acclamation. 

THE   RULING  ELDERS 

Of  this  church  have  been,  Messrs.  Timothy  L.  Ba- 
con, Linus  Stevens,  Silas  Hawley  (1825),  Worthington 
Wright,  Benjamin  Campbell  (1827),  Enos  Pomeroy 
(1832),  Orlando  Hastings,  David  Dickey,  John  H. 
Thompson  (1833),  James  Seymour,  Jacob  M.  Scher- 
merhorn,  Harvey  Pratt  (1838),  Jeremiah  Hildreth, 
Samuel  W.  Lee,  H.  C.  Fenn,  Edwin  Scrantom  (1846), 
Louis  Chapin,  Richard  Gorsline,  J.  W.  Hatch,  Edwin 
T.  Huntingdon,  Truman  A.  Newton,  and  Jacob  Howe 
(1859).  Of  these  officers  eleven  are  deceased,  four  re- 
signed, and  seven  now  acting. 

THE  DEACONS 

Have  been  Messrs,   Abner  Hubbard,   Phineas  B. 


CHURCHES    OF   EOCIIESTEK.  29 

Cook,  Charles  W.  Dundas  (1833),  Edward  Bardwell. 
David  O.  Porter,  Jolin  T.  Fox, and  Charles  J.  Hayden. 
of  whom  one  is  deceased,  four  dismissed  by  letter,  and 
two  acting. 

THE   SU]N"DAY   SCHOOL 

Has  always  been  an  important  adjunct  and  coopera- 
tive agency  of  this  church.  The  superintendents  have 
been  Messrs.  Jonathan  Brown  (1827),  John  H.  Thomp- 
son (^zoe^i^y-^^/^ree  ^/^ar^),  Alex.  J.  Burr  (1838),  Samuel 
W.  Lee  (1840),  Nelson  Hall  (1842-3),  Louis  Chapin 
(1847,  '65-6),  Richard  Dibble  (1849),  James  F.  Conk- 
lin  (1850),  Edwin  T.  Huntington  (1854-8),  Truman  A. 
Newton  (1862-4),  Jesse  W.  Hatch  (1867),  and  Elisha 
M.  Carpenter  (1868-9-70). 

During  the  last  forty-three  years  there  have  been 
received  into  the  church  from  the  Sabbath  school,  up- 
on profession  of  their  faith,  one  hundred  and  ticenty- 
four  teachers,  and  one  thousand  and  sixty-Ji'Ge 
scholars. 

MEMBERS    OF    THE    BRICK     WHO     HAVE   ENTERED   THE 
MINISTRY. 

Rev.  David  C.  Ames. 

Rev.  Horace  H.  Allen,  Oneonta,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Charles  R.  Burdick,  Joilet,  111. 

Rev.  Lemuel  Clark. 

Rev.  Philo  G.  Cook,  JBuffalo,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Darwin  Chichester,  Hammondsport,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Nathan  Chapin,  La  Crosse,  Wis. 

Rev.  Elisha  M.  Carpenter,  New  York  city. 


30  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

Rev.  Hiram  W.  Congdon. 

Rev.  David  Dickey,  Bethel  Society,  Rochester. 
Rev.  W.  Evarts. 

Rev.  Corlis  B.  Gardner,  Cuba,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  T.  D wight  Hunt,  Niles,  Michigan. 
Rev.  Aug.  F.  Hall,  died  at  Webster,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  Parsons  C.  Hastings,  Brooklyn  (a  merchant). 
Rev.  Gavin  L.  Hamilton,  Rochester. 
Rev.  Alvan  Ingersoll,  died  at  Rochester,  1863. 
Rev.  Thomas  H.  Johnson,  Rehoboth,  Mass. 
Rev.  Jonathan  Ketchum. 
Rev.  Amos  D.  McCoy. 
Rev.  David  Millard. 

Rev.  George  W.  Mackie,  Chicago,  111.    . 
Rev.  Enoch  K.  Miller,  Texas. 
Rev.  Henry  T.  Miller. 

Rev.  James  S.  Pierpont,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 
Rev.  James  H.  Phelps,  Flushing,  Mich. 
Rev.  David  11.  Palmer,  Prattsburg,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  John  Spink,  Methodist. 

Rev.  Augustus  C.  Shaw  (son  of  the  pastor),  Pulton, 
N.  Y. 

Rev.  Edwin  S.  Wright,  D.D.,  Fredonia,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  Ansley  D.  White,  Clinton,  111. 
Rev.  Worthington  Wright. 

SUMMA^l,  JUZr  /..  I87i' 

Pastor. — Rev.  James  Boylen  Shaw,  D.D. 

Elders — Messrs.  David  Dickey,  Harvey  C.  Fenn, 
Edwin  Scrantom,  Louis  Chapin,  Jesse  W.  Hatch, 
Edwin  T.  Huntington,  and  Truman  A.  Newton. 


CIIUKCIIES    OF    KOCIIESTEK.  31. 

Deacons — Messrs.  Edward  Bardwell  and  David  O. 
Porter. 

8.  8.  Superintendent — Edwin  T.  Huntington. 
Teachers — 72.     Scholars — 822. 
Church  Communicants — 1250. 


MEMORIAL    CHAPEL. 


This  recent  erection,  located  on  the  north-east  corner 
of  Hudson  and  Nelson  streets,  derived  its  name  from 
the  fact  that  members  of  the  Brick  church  contributed 
their  proportion  of  the  monies  donated  by  them  dur- 
ing the  memorial  years  of  1869  and  1870,  to  this  their 
colony.  Commenced  as  a  Sabbath  school  held  in  a 
public  school  house  number  eighteen,  it  has  become 
a  separate  body,  under  the  Rev.  Gavin  L.  Hani- 
ilton,  who  had  ministered  for  a  period  at  Pittsford, 
and  who,  on  the  first  of  January,  1871,  took  holc^ 
of  this  enterprise  with  an  earnestness,  ensuring 
under  God,  large  results  for  good  in  a  locality 
needing  the  labors  of  a  faithful  pastor  and  working 
church.  May  the  child  be  w^orthy  of  tlie  parent. 
More  can  hardly  be  asked. 

EREATA   IN   THIS   NARRATIVE. 

Page  25,  eleventh  line  from  bottom,  for  Rev.  Samuel  Fisher  read  Re4. 
Samuel  W.  Fisher. 

Page  25,  eighth  line  from  bottom,  read  "The  Trustees  of  the  Brick  church.. 
in  Rochester. 

Page  27,  fourteenth  line  from  bottom,  for  1861  read  1871. 

Page  28,  eighth  line  from  bottom,  for  Ilarvey  Pratt  read  Ilarr/  [»r*lt. 


THIRD    CHURCH. 


In  December,  1826,  a  religious  society  was  incorpo- 
rated on  the  east  side  of  the  river  (tlien  called 
Brighton),  which  ultimately  became  the  "  Third  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Rochester."  The  first  place  of 
Worship  was  a  school  house  on  the  corner  of  Mortimer 
and  Clinton  streets.  This  being  too  strait  for  the  con- 
gregation,  a  building  was  erected  on  the  same  street, 
size  24  by  60,  the  timber  standing  in  its  native  forest 
on  Monday  and  services  held  on  the  next  Lord's  day. 
As  if  to  add  to  the  celebrity  of  this  structure,  within 
its  walls  originated  the  plan,  which  was  afterwards 
adopted  by  the  American  Bible  society,  of  supplying 
every  destitute  family  in  the  land  with  a  copy  of  the 
word  of  God  ;  and  also  that  honest  but  abortive  effort 
to  prevent  by  law  of  Congress  the  transportation  of 
the  mail  and  to  close  all  post-offices  on  the  Sabbath, 
coupled  with  the  establishment  of  a  Sabbath-keeping 
line'of  boats  on  the  canal,  and  a  pioneer  line  of  coaches 
on  the  road.  These  all  had  their  origin  in  the  heart  of 
that  man  of  christian  earnestness  and  energy,  Josiali 
Bissell,  Jr.,  first  elder  of  this  church. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1827,  a  formal  organization 
was  perfected  by  the  enrollment  of  nineteen  persons 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  S3- 

with  letters  from  the  First  and  Brick  Presbyterian 
churches.  Messrs.  Salmon  Scofield  and  Josiah  Bis- 
sell,  Jr.,  Avere  elected  elders  —  both  long  deceased,  aa 
are  all  the  other  founders. 

This  temporary  but  honored  place  of  worship  ere 
long  yielded  to  one  more  commodious,  substantial  and 
attractive,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  North  Clinton 
streets.  But  in  so  doing  a  debt  was  contracted  which 
resulted  in  the  selling  of  the  property  to  the  Second 
Baptist  society  at  a  nominal  amount  of  $7000.  The 
first  pastor.  Rev.  (now  Dr.)  Joel  Parker,  having  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  !N"ew  York  city.  Rev.  Charles  G.  Fin- 
ney preached  for  six  months,  beginning  early  in  Sep- 
tember, 1830,  with  abundant  results  in  addition  to 
membership  and  strength.  In  May,  1831,  Rev.  Luke 
Lyons  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  but  remained  a 
short  time,  when  he  and  a  large  number  withdrew  and 
organized  a  Free  Church  on  the  corner  of  Court  and 
Stone  streets.  After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Lj^ons,. 
Rev.  Mr.  (now  Dr.)  W.  C.  Wisner,  of  Lockport,  was 
called  to  the  pastorate,  but  left  after  a  brief  service. 
Then  came  a  period  of  depression  threatening  the  very 
life  of  the  organization.  A  few  remained  firm  and 
hopeful.  These  held  occasional  service  in  the  old. 
Methodist  church  on  St.  Paul  street,  south  of  the 
present  theatre,  and  in  the  Scotch  church  oi\  the  cor- 
ner of  Stillson  and  Main  streets,  waiting  the  indica- 
tion of  the  Divine  will.  It  was  in  the  year  1834  that 
Rev.  William  Mack,  then  on  his  way  to  Canada,  ac- 
cepted an  invitation  to  pass  a  few  Sabbaths  here,, 
which  resulted  in  his  assuming  the  pastorate,  the  place 
of  worship  being  the  upper  room  of  the  old  High 


34  CIirRCIIES   OF   EOCHESTER. 

School  lionse,  which  then  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied 
loy  the  present  imposing  church  edifice.  For  five  j^ears 
(February,  1835,  to  June,  1839),  Mr.  Mack  ministered 
with  much  ability  and  usefulness,  when  he  resigned, 
a,nd  now  resides  in  Columbia,  Tennessee.  The  con- 
gregation then  erected  a  small  stone  structure  on  the 
south  side  of  Main  street,  which  was  subsequently 
enlarged  and  beautified,  but  was  finally  destroyed  by 
fire  in  the  autumn  of  1858.  On  the  first  Sabbath  of 
February,  1840,  Rev.  (now  Dr.)  Albert  G.  Hall  com- 
menced his  labors,  which  have  extended  to  the  present 
iime,  and  during  whose  ministry  about  nine  hundred 
have  been  added  to  the  church,  one-half  or  more  upon 
profession  of  their  faith.  The  Sabbath  school  has  been 
a  nursery  indeed,  fifteen  preachers  of  the  Gospel  hav- 
ing gone  from  it,  through  the  church,  into  the  minis- 
try, twelve  of  whom  are  now  living  and  three  are 
deceased  ;  one  was  a  foreign  missionary. 

The  present  edifice,  after  plans  by  Upjohn,  of  New 
York,  was  erected  in  the  year  1859,  at  an  expense  of 
about  $38,000.  The  nineteen  persons  constituting  the 
membership  in  1826  have  arisen  to  four  hundred,  with 
two  hundred  and  fifty  in  the  Sabbath  school,  and  other 
-elements  indicating  prosperity.  In  his  '"Twenty -fifth 
Anniversary  Sermon,"  delivered  January  29,  1865, 
the  pastor  speaks  of  losses  by  death  of  such  persons 
as  Messrs.  JosiahBissell,Jr.,George  A.  Hollister,  Selah 
Matthews,  a  model  elder,  "Father"  Albee.  J.W.Smith, 
M.D.,  "the  beloved  physician"  ;  Abijah  Gould,  Piatt 
Starr,  father  of  Hon.  Frederick  Starr  ;  David  Scoville, 
""  Father"  Eli  Stillson,  Asahel  Fitch,  Joseph  Combs, 
Dr.  Moses  Long,  U.  G.  Squier,  Munn  Morgan,  John  S. 


CHUECHES   OF   KOCIIESTEll.  35 

Allen,  James  Hair,  Alvin  S.  French,  Virgil  Chitten- 
den, William  Cogswell,  John  C.  Merrill,  George  Clark, 
Deacon  Isaac  Hobble,  Mr.  Crittenden,  Mr.  Granger, 
Anson  House,  Rev.  Charles  Ray,  for  many  years  a 
missionary  in  India,  and  father  of  Rev.  Charles  Ray 
of  Wj^oming ;  Hon.  W.  C.  Bloss,  with  many  wives, 
mothers  and  sisters,  who  having  finished  the  work 
given  them  to  do  have  ascended  to  their  heavenly 
home.  "Their  works  do  follow  them,  and  their  mem- 
ory is  blessed." 

This  church  has  recently  sustained  no  ordinary  loss 
in  the  death  of  Mr.  Emmet  H.  Hollister,  son  of  one  of 
the  founders. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  Joel  Parker,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Bethel,  Yt.,  in 
1799  ;  studied  at  Hamilton  college  and  Auburn  sem- 
inary ;  accepted  a  call  as  first  pastor  of  the  Third 
church  of  Rochester,  upon  a  salary  of  "a  half  of 
brother  Josiali  Bissell's  biscuit,  as  long  as  he  had 
one,"  or  more  financially  expressed,  $130  for  the  first 
six  months,  and  $800  per  annum  afterwards.  After  a 
two  years'  pastorate,  he  was  induced,  after  much  so- 
licitation, to  remove  to  New  York  and  commence 
a  new  enterprise  in  that  city.  Having  labored  there 
with  great  energy  and  success  for  four  years,  he  went 
to  New  Orleans  as  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church  of  that  southern  metropolis,  but  returned  to 
New  York  and  assumed  charge  of  the  Broadway 
Tabernacle  in  1838,  during  which  time  he  acted  as 
president  of  the  Union  Tlieological  seminary,  then  re- 


36  cnuRonES  of  Rochester. 

cently  established.  In  1842  lie  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  as  pastor  of  the  Clinton  street  church,  and 
back  to  New  York,  as  successor  of  the  E,ev.  Dr.  Erskine 
Mason,  on  Bleecker  street,  in  1842.  The  year  1862 
found  him  pastor  of  the  Park  street  church  of  Newark, 
which  ill  health  compelled  him  to  resign,  but  in  which 
city  he  now  resides.  Few  ministers  of  Christ  spent 
thirty-five  years  of  more  abundant  labor  and  ample 
success  and  large  repute  than  did  Dr.  Parker  between 
1827  and  1862.  He  will  long  live  in  the  esteem  and 
gratitude  of  many  hearts. 

Rev.  Luke  Lyons  came  to  the  "village"  from  Court- 
land,  in  1831,  remaining  for  a  few  months  in  charge  of 
the  Third,  and  then  of  a  new  organization  on  Court 
street,  till  about  1845,  when  he  went  to  Illinois,  and 
died. 

Rev.  William  Mack,  D.D.,  came  to  this  city  from 
the  seminary  at  Princeton  ;  served  the  church  with 
ability  for  two  years,  and  v^^ent  soutli,  where  he  now 
resides,  in  Columbia,  Tenn. 

Rev.  William  Carpenter  Wisner,  D.D.,  is  a  native 
of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  and  a  graduate  of  Union  college. 
He  studied  theology  with  his  father,  William  Wisner, 
D.D.,  for  many  years  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Ithaca,  and  for  a  time  of  the  Brick  church 
of  this  city.  He  took  charge  of  the  Third  church  in 
1832,  but  resigned  in  two  years,  on  account  of  ill 
health,  and  has  since  ministered  to  the  First  church  of 
Lockport.  It  was  during  Dr.  Wisner' s  pastorate  here 
that  the  cholera  prevailed  in  the  city  with  such  sad 
results.  The  illness  of  Drs.  Penny  and  Wisner,  Sr., 
threw  upon  the  young  pastor  an  amount  of  labor  and 


CnUIlCHES    OF   EOCnESTER.  37 

care  beyond  the  endurance  of  one  not  of  sturdiest 
frame.  Dr.  Wisner  often  preaches  in  the  city,  and 
always  with  acceptance  and  usefulness. 

Rev.  Albert  Gallatin  Hall,  D.D.,  was  born  in  AVhite- 
hall,  Washington  county,  N.  Y. ;  after  coming  to  this 
city,  became  a  member  of  the  Third  Presbyterian 
church  ;  ■  pursued  his  classical  studies  principally  in 
private,  with  a  brief  term  at  the  collegiate  institution, 
and  his  theological  at  home  after  his  day's  labor  as 
printer  and  editor  of  a  weekly  journal,  in  support  of 
his  family  ;  was  licensed  to  preach  July  1,  1835  ;  min- 
istered to  a  church  in  Penfield,  N".  Y. ;  became  pastor 
of  the  Third  in  February,  1840,  which  position  he  still 
holds  with  rare  ability,  universal  esteem,  and  power- 
ful influence  for  good  in  his  parish  and  region.  A 
character  formed  under  circumstances  like  those  re- 
ferred to  must  be  of  a  nature  to  make  itself  felt.  Dr. 
Hall  is  no  ordinary  man  in  thought  and  power. 

S.  S.   SUPEEI]SrTE]S'DENTS. 

The  superintendents  of  the  Sabbath  school  have 
been,  Josiah  Bissell,  Jr.,  Salmon  Scofield,  Albert  Gr. 
Hall  (now  pastor),  Joseph  B.  Bloss,  Samuel  W.  Lee, 
Selah  Matthews,  Jonathan  Copeland  (now Rev.),  John 
G.  Parker,  William  Shepherd,  C.  C.  Colt,  George  A. 
Hollister,  Joseph  D.  Husbands,  John  Graves,  Ira 
Belden,  Charles  Ray  (now  Rev.)  William  T.  Cushing, 
William  J.  Armitage,  Emmet  H.  Hollister,  Jesse 
Shepherd,  David  H.  Little,  and  Manly  D.  Rowley. 


38  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTEE. 

MEMBERS    OF   THIS    CHURCH   WHO   HAVE    ENTERED 
THE   MINISTRY. 

Rev.  Albert  G.  Hall,  D.D.,  now  in  the  thirty-first 
year  of  his  pastorate. 

Rev.  Hezekiah  Pierrepont,  in  Rochester. 

Rev.  Richard  DeForest,  in  Rochester 

Rev.  T.  Reaves  Chipman,  deceased. 

Rev.  Samuel  M.  Bayliss,  Darlington,  Md. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Copeland. 

Rev.  Charles  Ray,  Wyoming,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Gavin  Longmuir. 

Rev.  Charles  W.  Wood,  Oakfield,  N.  Y. 


Pastor— nev.  Albert  G.  Hall,  D.D. 

Elders — Messrs.  Nathaniel  Hay  ward,  William  Shep- 
herd, Thomas  B.  Husbands,  Ira  Cook,  John  Voorhees, 
Joseph  Harris,  AVilliam  F.  Cogswell. 

Deacons — Messrs.  James  Young,  Storrs  Hayward, 
John  Evershed. 

Trustees — W.  J.  Armitage,  Edward  Harris,  AV.  G. 
Watson,  D.  P.  Allen,  B.  P.  Robinson,  M.  D.  Rowley, 
A.  Reynolds,  J.  G.  Luitwiler,  Peter  Schenck. 

S.  8.  Superintendent — M.  D.  Rowley. 

S.  8.  Scholars— 2^0. 

Communicants — 400. 


CENTRAL  CHURCH. 


In  Marcli,  1836,  several  members  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian clmrcli  met  to  discuss  tlie  expediency  of  es- 
tablishing anotlier  evangelical  church  within  the  limits 
of  the  city.  After  much  prayer  and  consultation,  it 
was  unanimously  resolved,  "That  the  present  circum- 
stances of  Rochester  call  for  "the  establishment  of 
another  church  within  its  limits." 

The  distinguishing  characteristics  of  this  new  enter- 
prise were  declared  to  be :  1st.  It  was  to  be  a  mis- 
sionary church,  established  upon  principles  of  high 
christian  consecration  and  devotedness.  2d.  A  free 
church,  embracing  a  Bethel  interest.  3d.  Open  for 
free  discussion  on  all  subjects  of  morals,  etc.,  such  as 
temperance,  slavery,  etc.  4tli.  Its  secular  as  well  as. 
its  religious  affairs  to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  church 
exclusively. 

In  August,  1836,  thirty-nine  persons,  members  of  the 
First  church,  were  organized  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Rochester,  under  the  name  of  the  ' '  Bethel  Presbyterian 
church  of  Rochester."  Their  names  were  Michael  B. 
Bateham,  Preston,  Eunice,  Henry  F.,  William  P.  and 
Elvira  N.  Smith,  Joseph  Farley,  Theodore  B.  and 
Julia  M.  Hamilton,  Joseph,  Nancy  and  Newell  A. 


40  CHURCHES    OF    ROCHESTER. 

Stone,  Mary  Jane  Porter,  Tliomas  Adams,  William  S. 
Bisliop,  George  A.  and  Frances  Avery,  Richard  P. 
and  Mary  P.  Wilkins,  Spencer  Davis,  Ebenezer  and 
Polly  Knapp,  Appollos  Luce,  Aurelia  S.  Adams, 
Mary  M.  Cook,  Eliza  Davis,  Jolm  F.  Bush,  John 
Biden,  Jr.,  Walter  S.,  Henry  D.  and  Elizabeth  S. 
Griffith,  William  and  Lydia  Cook,  Josiah  and  Mary 
Newell,  John  and  Louisa  Stitt,  Lydia  and  Fanny  E. 
Hatch.  Of  these  original  thirty-nine  founders,  fif- 
teen are  still  living,  seven  are  residents  of  the  city,  and 
and  three  are  in  communion  with  the  church,  viz: 
Henry  F.  and  Elvira  N.  Smith  and  Joseph  Stone. 
The  first  bench  of  elders  Avere  Messrs.  George  A. 
Avery  (deceased),  Walter  S.  Griffith  (of  Brooklyn), 
and  Preston  Smith  ((Jeceased), 

A  substantial  stone  edifice  was  erected,  during  the 
fall  and  winter,  on  Washington  street,  adjacent  to  the 
Erie  canal,  costing  $15,000. 

The  Rev.  George  S.  Boardman  was  installed  as  first 
pastor  October  19, 1837,  and  resigned  July,  1842,  His 
pastoral  and  Sabbath  school  labors  were  so  greatly 
Iblessed  of  God  that  the  little  band  became  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  strong.  In  February,  1842,  Rev.  Charles 
G.  Finney,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio,  assisted  the  pastor  in  a 
•series  of  meetings,  which  resulted  in  the  hopeful  con- 
version of  three  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  many  of 
whom  ranked  as  our  most  influention  citizens.  These 
united  with  the  following  churches:  St.  Luke's, 
Episcopal,  75  ;  First  Presbyterian,  24 ;  Brick,  Pres- 
byterian, 89  ;  Third  Presbyterian,  20 ;  Washington 
street,  Presbyterian,  16  ;  First  Baptist,  12  ;  Methodist, 
two  churches,  115. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  41 

In  1841  the  name  of  the  chiircli  was  changed  from 
Bethel  Free  church  to  that  of  the  "Washington  street 
church. 

In  March,  1843,  the  church  withdrew  from  the  Pres- 
bytery and  became  independent,  so  continuing  till 
1844,  when  it  resumed  its  former  ecclesiastical  j)osition. 

Between  July,  1842,  and  February,  1845,  the  church 
being  without  a  pastor,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by 
Rev,  John  T.  Avery,  Rev.  Bassett,  Rev.  G.  II.  R. 
Shumway,  Rev.  Fred.  W.  Graves,  and  Rev.  Parsons 
C.  Hastings.  This  was  a  period  of  declension,  and 
the  membership  sank  to  two  hundred  and  three  mem- 
bers, of  whom  lifty  were  non-residents. 

During  August,  1844,  a  colony,  consisting  of  ten 
heads  of  families  with  their  households,  responded  to 
the  Macedonian  cry,  and  with  noble  generosity  left 
the  Brick  church  to  join  this  ;  thus  adding  greatly  to 
our  working  material,  especially  in  the  Sabbath  school. 

The  Rev.  Milo  J.  Hickok,  D.D.,  was  installed  as 
second  pastor,  February  25,  1845,  resigning  March  15, 
1854.  These  were  years  of  growth  and  general  pros- 
perity. The  early  missionary  spirit  was  revived  and 
much  strengthened  by  an  admirable  course  of  ad- 
dresses delivered  by  the  pastor,  assisted  by  maps, 
some  of  which  were  prepared  by  his  own  hands.  This 
had  much  to  do  with  sending  two  female  missionaries 
to  foreign  lands. 

Rev.  Frank  F.  EUinwood,  D.D.,  was  installed  as 
third  pastor  January  9,  1855,  resigning  January  24, 
1866,  much  to  the  regret  of  the  people,  who  voted  him 
$100  per  month  for  a  year.  Ill  health  was  the  sole  but 
imperative  cause. 


42  CirUFvClIES  OF  kochester. 

The  congregation  continued  to  worsliip  on  Wash- 
ington street  till  the  completion  of  their  new  and  com- 
modious edifice  on  Sophia  street,  which  was  dedicated 
April  8,  1858,  This  was  a  marked  event  in  the  history 
of  the  cimrch,  not  only  on  account  of  the  change  of 
name  from  Washington  street  church  to  Central  Pres- 
bj'teriau  church,  but  more  by  the  evident  blessing  of 
God,  in  things  temporal  and  spiritual,  from  year  to 
3'ear,  Several  revivals  occurred,  the  most  abundant 
in  results  being  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  E.  P.  Ham- 
mond, when  large  accessions  were  made,  especially 
from  the  ^-outh. 

Rev.  Samuel  M.  Campbell,  D.D.,  the  fourth  pastor 
and  present  incumbent,  was  installed  June  14,  1866. 

A  vigorous  mission  Sabbath  school,  planted  and 
sustained  b}^  this  church  for  more  than  ten  years,  on 
West  avenue,  was,  on  the  11th  of  April,  1868,  set  off 
as  a  sepaiate  organization,  under  the  title  of  the  West- 
minster church  of  Rochester,  with  eighty-two  mem- 
bers, all  of  whom  were  from  the  parent  body. 

In  the  year  1869  another  mission  school  was  estab- 
lished on  Lake  avenue,  which  has  now  about  two 
hundred  scholars,  with  a  hopeful  future,  under  the 
efficient  superintendence  of  Mr.  William  A.  Hubbard, 
an  eld<^r  of  the  church,  aided  by  a  corps  of  teachers 
of  great  earnestness  and  devotion. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  George  Smith  Boardman,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  a  graduate  of  Union  college  and 
of  Pi-inceton  seminar}^     Having  spent  sixteen  years 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCIIESTEK.  43 

as  pastor  of  tlie  First  church  in  Watertown,  N.Y.,  he 
removed  to  Rochester  in  1837,  and  became  pastor  of 
the  Central  till  1842,  when  he  resigned  and  assumed  a 
pastorate  at  Cherry  Valley,  and  then  at  Cazenovia. 
Ill  health  has  required  a  relinquishment  of  a  pastor- 
ate, though  still  preaching  with  frequency,  supplying 
the  church  at  Ogdensburgh  during  the  absence  in 
Europe  of  their  pastor.  Dr.  L.  M.  Miller. 

Rev.  Milo  Judson  Hickok,  D.D.,  was  born  at  New 
Haven,  Vt.  ;  graduated  at  Middlebury  college  and 
Union  seminaiy,  N.  Y. ;  came  to  Rochester  in  1845, 
where  he  labored  with  great  energy  for  nine  years,  and 
then  went  to  Scranton,  Pa.,  where  he  was  pastor  for 
fourteen  years,  when  a  stroke  of  paralysis  disabled 
him  lor  further  public  work,  and  he  is  spending  his 
last  days  at  Marietta,  Ohio. 

Rev.  Frank  Field  Ellinwood,  D.D.,  was  born  in 
Clinton,  N.  Y. ;  studied  at  Hamilton  college  and  at 
both  Auburn  and  Princeton  seminaries  ;  was  settled 
at  Belvidrre,  N.  Y.,  from  whence  he  came  to  Roches- 
ter in  November,  1854,  where  he  remained  till  1865, 
when  ill  health  compelled  him  to  leave  a  devoted 
people,  among  whom  he  had  labored  with  great  ac- 
ceptance and  success  for  eleven  years.  Returning 
from  a  long  tour  abroad,  he  assumed  the  secretaryship 
of  the  Chuich  Erection  committee,  which  he  held  till 
the  re-union.  He  had  charge  of  the  $5,000,000  memo- 
rial fund,  upon  completing  which  he  became  co-secre- 
tary of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  having  declined 
a  professorship  in  the  Theological  seminary  at  Pitts- 
burgh, to  which  he  had  been  elected. 

Rev.  Samuel  M.  Campbell,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Camp- 


44       "  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

belltown,  Steuben  county,  N.  Y. ;  pursued  his  classical 
studies  privately,  and  his  theological  at  Auburn.  His 
first  ministerial  charge  was  at  Parr' s  Hill ;  his  second 
(a  year),  at  Dansville ;  his  third,  at  Utica  (Westmin- 
ster), from  whence  he  came  to  Rochester,  March  1, 
1866. 

ELDERS. 

George  A.  Avery,  "Walter  S.  Griffith,  Preston  Smith 
(deceased),  ordained  1836  ;  Philip  Thurber,  1838  ;  Cal- 
vin H.  Hamilton  (deceased),  William  S.  Bishop  (de- 
ceased), 1841  ;  Charles  Freeman  (dece  ised),  1844 ; 
William  Ailing,  L3mian  Cook,  1845  ;  John  G.  Dabney 
(deceased),  Solon  C.  Avery  (deceased),  Orlando  Hast- 
ings (deceased),  1848  ;  Frederick  Starr  (deceased),  1845; 
John  N.  Harder,  1856  ;  Steuben  S.  Forbes,  1865  ;  Elias 
Child,  George  W.  Parsons,  Henry  Churchill,  1860 ; 
Frederick  W.  Dewey,  William  A.  Hubbard,  David  A. 
Baldwin,  M.D.,  and  Lewis  A.  Ailing,  1865. 

Whole  number  of  persons  admitted  to  this  church 
since  its  formation  in  1836,  1775  ;  of  this  number,  811 
were  upon  profession  of  their  faith  (631  from  the  Sab- 
bath school),  and  964  by  letter. 

MINISTERS   AND   MISSIONARIES   FROM   THIS    CHURCH. 

Rev.  C.  W.  Torrey. 

Rev.  Frederick  J.  Jackson,  at  Tarrytown,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  Dillis  D.  Hamilton,  at  Pompeii,  Mich. 
Rev.  George  S.  Bishop,  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  Willis  C.  Gaylord,  at  Ossian,  N.  Y. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  45 

Miss  Fanny  M.  Nelson  (Mrs.  S.  McKinney),  South 
Africa. 

Miss  Isabella  J.  Atwater  (Mrs.  M.  White),  China. 

Miss  Hattie  Seymor,  East  Turkey. 

Miss  Carrie  E.  Bnsh  (daughter  of  Rev.  Charles  P. 
Bush,  D.D.),  East  Turkey. 

SABBATH   SCHOOL. 

The  Bethel  Sabbath  school  of  the  city  of  Rochester 
was  organized  August  12,  1836,  the  first  session  being 
in  the  Crane  school  house,  on  the  north  side  of  Buffalo 
street,  between  Sophia  and  Washington  streets.  Pres- 
ent at  the  organization,  Messrs.  W.  S.  Griffith,  AVil- 
liam  Cook,  William  S.  Bishop,  John  Stitt,  Josiah 
Newell,  Preston  Smith,  Theodore  B.  Hamilton,  Joseph 
Farley,  John  F.  Bush,  John  Biden,  Jr.,  Richard  P. 
Wilkins,  and  M.  B.  Bateham,  with  Mrs.  William 
Cook,  T.  B.  Hamilton,  Joseph  Stone,  and  Misses 
Frances  Hatch  and  Naomi  Davis  —  in  all  eighteen. 
Of  these  there  are  now  living,  Messrs.  Griffith,  Bate- 
ham, Farley,  Bush,  and  H.  A.  Brewster.  Of  the 
twenty-six  scholars  present  at  the  first  session,  two 
are  now  connected  with  the  school,  viz :  Mr.  Henrj'-  F. 
Smith,  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Elvira  Smith  Allen,  a  teacher. 

The  superintendents  have  been,  W.  S.  Griffith, 
183G-9  ;  William  S.  Bishop,  1839-42  ;  George  W.  Par- 
sons, 1842  to  1871,  less  one  year  on  account  of  sick- 
ness, and  who  is  now  in  his  twenty-eighth  year  of 
service. 

Average  attendance  of  scholars  during  thirty-four 


46  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

years,  253 ;  average  attendance  of  teachers  during- 
thirty-four  years,  42.  Added  lo  the  churcli,  of  scliol- 
ars,  during  thirty-four  years,  631.  Enlistments  dur- 
ing the  late  war,  from  the  Sabbath  school,  110  —  of 
whom  fifteen  are  known  to  have  died  on  the  held  or 
in  the  hospital.  The  missionaries  before  named  were 
teachers  in  the  Sabbath  school. 

The  Young  People's  Missionary  Society,  organized 
in  1846,  and  lately  re-organized,  is  doing  a  noble  work 
in  city,  home,  and  foreign  missions.  Contributions 
to  various  benevolent  objects  have  come  largely  from 
the  Sabbath  school. 

BENEVOLENCE. 

The  first  decade  was  a  season  of  planting,  of  church 
building,  etc.;  hence  the  amounts  paid  to  outside  ob- 
jects were  small. 

First  Decade. 
From  August  1,  1836,  to  January  1,  1847: 

Foreign  missions,  $378  73 

Home  "  411  76 

Miscellaneous  objects,  692  10 

$1,482  59 

Second  Decade. 
January  1,  1847,  to  January  1,  1857: 

Foreign  missions,  $2,767  64 

Home  "  1,841  82 

Miscellaneous  objects,  4,486  54 

, $9,096  00 


CHURCHES    OF    KOCIIESTEH.  47 

Third  Decade. 
January  1,  1857,  to  January  1,  18G7 : 

Foreign  missions,  $8,342  91 

Home  "  4,573  56 

Miscellaneous  objects,  29,289  40 

$42,154  87 

Fourth  Decade  {one-half). 

January  1,  1867,  to  January  1,  1871 : 

Foreign  missions,  $4,938  50 

Home  "  8336  84 

Miscellaneous  objects,  11.600  10 


-824,875  44 
New  place  of  worshii^  in  1858,  $41,000,  less 

by  $8,600,  avails  of  the  old,  $32,4'^0 

Missions  chapel  in  1860-1,  3,000 

Organ,  5,000 

SUMMAflY,  JULY  /,  /S7/. 

Pastor — Rev.  Samuel  S.  Campbell,  D.D. 

Elders — Messrs.  William  Ailing,  John  N,  Harder, 
Steuben  S.  Forbes,  George  W.  Parsons,  Henry  Church- 
ill, Frederick  W.  Dewey,  William  A.  Hubbard,  Lewis 
H.  Ailing. 

Trustees — Messrs,  George  W.  Parsons,  William  A. 
Hubbard,  H.  Austin  Brewster,  Lewis  H.  Ailing,  Wil- 
liam S.  Ailing,  Herbert  Churchill,  Henry  F.  Smith, 
A.  M.  Hastings,  and  Samuel  Sloan. 

S.  S.  Superintendent— George  W.  Parsons. 

iVo.  of  Scholars— 775. 

Church  Communicants — 700. 


CALYAEY  CHUECH. 


Early  iu  the  year  1847,  Rev.  Richard  DeForest  pur- 
chased a  lot  in  the  south-east  part  of  the  city,  on 
which  he  erected  a  small  building,  containing  one 
room,  and  then  went  through  the  neighborhood  in- 
forming the  residents  that  a  Sabbath  school  would  be 
commenced  on  the  next  Lord's  day  morning,  followed 
by  preaching  in  the  afternoon.  Forty  scholars  were 
present  at  the  former  service,  and  a  crowd  at  the  latter. 
This  occurred  on  the  12th  of  December,  1847.  Special 
religious  interest  was  soon  manifest,  which  resulted  in 
a  considerable  ingathering  of  converts,  thus  prepar- 
ing the  way  for  a  formal  ecclesiastical  organization  on 
the  26th  of  March,  1818,  under  the  name  of  the  St. 
Paul  street  Congregational  cliurch.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  Henry  E.  Peck,  pastor  of  the  State 
street  Congregational  cliurch,  and  twentj^-six  persons 
enrolled  themsflves  as  members  in  full  communion. 
In  the  Ma}'  following  a  cliurch  edifice  was  begun  on 
the  corner  of  South  avenue  and  Jeiferson  street,  which, 
alter  months  of  effort  made  hy  Mr.  DeForest  in  ob- 
taining funds,  was  completed  and  dedicated  to  the 
worship  of  God.  November  3,  1850  ;  the  sermon  being 
preached  by  President  Mahan,  of  Oberlin,  Ohio. 


CIIUKCIIES   OF   i:OC HESTER.  49 

The  ecclesiastical  relations  and  forms  of  worship 
were  Congregational,  and  so  continued  until  another 
church  of  the  same  denomination,  and  other  causes, 
so  affected  the  finances  that  a  sale  of  the  property  be- 
came imperative.  It  was  purchased  by  L.  A.  Ward, 
Esq.,  wit!i  a  view  of  its  becoming  Presbyterian,  which 
has  been  the  case  ever  since. 

The  Presbyteiy  of  Rochester  city  (old  school),  at 
their  stated  spring  meeting  in  1856,  appointed  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Revs.  A.  G.  Hall,  D.D.,  J.  H.  Mc- 
Ilvaine,  D.D.,  R.  H.  Richardson,  and  James  Harkness, 
and  Elders  L.  A.  Ward,  W.  T.  Cashing,  and  Benton. 
This  committee  met  on  ihe  loth  day  of  June,  1856,  in 
what  was  known  as  South  St.  Paul  street  Congrega- 
tional church,  where,  with  others,  the  following  per- 
sons were  assembled,  and  presented  to  the  committee 
letters  of  membership  and  dismission  from  their  re- 
spective churclies,  with  the  view  of  being  constituted 
into  a  new  cliurch.  namelj^: 

From  the  Third  Presbyterian  church — William  Steb- 
bins,  Eliza  B.  Stebbins,  William  T.  Cushing,  Arabella 
Cushing,  Olive  Howes,  Helen  M.  Howes,  J.  G.  Stothoff, 
Henrietta  Dempsey,  Hannah  lh\}\  Mercy  Ingraham. 

From  the  St.  Paul  street  Congregational  church — 
Elizabeth  Blum,  Eliza  Barrett,  James  Barton,  Charles 
Barton,  James  G.  Badger,  Catharine  Badger. 

These  sixteen  persons  were  in  the  usual  way  consti- 
tuted into  a  new  and  indej)endent  ecclesiastical  organ- 
ization, to  be  named  and  known  as  the  Calvary  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Rochester. 

At  the  same  time  William  Stebbins  and  William  T. 


60  CIITTRCIIES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

Gushing  were  elected  and  installed  ruling  elders  in  the 
infant  church. 

Few  in  number  and  feeble  in  resources,  this  little 
company,  like  the  crew  of  a  little  boat  launched  upon 
the  open  sea,  embarked  with  fear  and  trembling  upon 
their  new  career,  Tliey  had  not  assembled,  however, 
many  weeks,  when  they  resolved  to  call  and  settle 
over  them  a  pastor  of  their  own.  Accordingly  on  the 
30th  of  July  of  the  same  year,  they  extended  a  call  to 
Rev.  Charles  Ray,  which  was  accepted.  Mr.  Ray  en- 
tered the  field  with  zeal  and  energy,  and  continued  his 
pastoral  labors  among  them  until  August  15th,  1858, 
wlien  a  variety  of  circumstances  concurred  to  decide 
him  that  it  was  his  duty  to  resign  and  leave. 

Though  now  considerably  increased  in  numbers, 
3''et  many  were  the  discouragements  and  difficulties 
which  visited  this  little  church  at  this  time.  The  pul- 
pit, however,  continued  to  be  supplied  by  Rev.  F. 
DeVV.  Ward,  D.D.,  of  Geneseo,  Rev.  J.  Nichols,  Rev. 
W.  Howell  Taylor,  and  others,  till  in  April,  1860,  they 
again  rallied  and  united  in  calling  for  their  pastor  Rev. 
Bellville  Roberts.  Mi-.  Roberts  manfully  laced  the 
difficulties  before  him.  During  his  ministry  many 
were  added  to  the  church,  and  through  his  untiring 
efforts  the  entire  debt  on  the  house  of  worship  was 
wiped  off.  Still  the  society  was  pecuniarily  weak,  and 
it  was  found  difficult  to  meet  the  necessary  expenses, 
notwithstanding  that  a  ceitain  amount  of  aid  was  ob- 
tained from  the  B.  of  D.  M.  Owing  to  this  and  to  the 
declining  health  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Roberts  resolved  to 
resign  and  remove  west,  which  he  did  after  a  pastorate 
of  some  four  years. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  51 

Once  more  the  little  flock  found  themselves  without 
a  shepherd  ;  but  Providence  did  not  forsake  them. 
Their  minds  ere  long  were  directed  to  Rev.  Alfred 
Yeomans,  who  was  earnestly  invited  to  come  and  take 
the  oversight  of  them.  He  consented  ;  and  from  his 
amiable  character,  intellectual  ability,  and  particular- 
ly from  his  relationship  to  Dr.  Yeomans,  pastor  of  the 
St.  Peter's  church,  being  his  brother,  great  hopes  were 
entertained  for  Calvary  ;  the  day  of  its  deliverance 
from  toil  and  peril  and  privations  of  its  pilgrimage 
through  the  wilderness  was  deemed  near  at  hand. 
Mr.  Yeomans,  however,  much  to  their  grief,  con- 
tinued among  them  but  for  one  brief  year,  and  evea 
during  that  brief  period  his  labors  were  sadly  inter- 
rupted once  and  again  by  ill  health.  He  left  in  the 
fall  of  1866. 

While  passing  through  these  repeated  changes  and 
trials,  this  congregation  was  much  burdened  and 
harassed  by  city  taxation.  Situated  upon  a  corner,  it 
had  been  subject  to  double  charges  for  gradings,  sew- 
ers and  sidewalks,  which  brought  in  a  series  of  heavy 
bills,  and  the  end  of  this  is  not  yet.  What  would 
have  been  in  this  way  a  light  matter  to  an  old  and 
strong  church  society,  was  found  and  felt  here  to  be  a 
burden  heavy  to  be  borne.  To  meet  these  onerous 
obligations,  many  have  been  the  sacritices  silently  and 
cheerfully  made,  which  are  worthy  to  be  reckoned 
with  the  widow' s  offering,  that  drew  forth  the  Saviour's 
high  commendation. 

After  Rev.  Mr.  Yeomans'  departure,  the  desk  was 
supplied  by  different  individuals  for  several  months, 
till  in  the  following  winter  the  society  once  more  unit- 


S2  CHUKCHES   OF   KOCIIESTER, 

ed  in  a  call  to  Rev.  H.  W.  Morris,  which  he  accepted, 
but  did  not  regularly  enter  upon  his  pastoral  duties 
until  March  17,  1867.  Mr.  Morris  remains  the  pastor 
to  the  present  day,  and  by  the  blessing  ot  God  upon 
his  pulpit  and  pastoral  labors,  the  churcli  has  made, 
though  not  rapid,  yet  steady  progress.  In  the  winter 
of  1869  a  very  precious  visitation  of  grace  was  enjoyed, 
there  being  among  those  received  at  one  communion 
ten  heads  of  families.  During  his  ministry,  as  the 
•sessional  records  exhibit,  the  membership  has  been 
nearly  doubled,  the  general  congregation  much  in- 
creased and  established  in  its  character,  so  that  the 
church  to-day  occupies  a  position  in  the  public  esti- 
mation far  in  advance  of  what  it  ever  did  before.  The 
corner-stone  of  a  reconstructed  church  has  lately  been 
laid. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  Richard  DeForest,  a  native  of  N'ew  York 
city,  is  of  French  descent,  his  ancestor  two  centuries 
back  being  a  refugee  to  New  Amsterdam  (now  New 
York).  After  a  course  of  classical  and  theological 
instruction  under  Prof.  F.  N.  Benedict,  and  at  Auburn 
seminary,  Mr.  DeForest  labored  as  an  evangelist  in 
this  State  and  at  the  west  till  he  returned  and  was  first 
pastor  of  St.  Paul  street  Congregational  church.  He 
now  resides  in  the  city. 

Rev.  Charles  Ray,  son  of  Rev.  Edward  and  Sarah 
Ray,  was  born  at  Calcutta,  India,  in  1829  ;  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  this  country  in  1839  ;  became  a 
member  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  church  (Dr.  A.  G. 
Hall,  pastor) ;  pursued  his  education  at  Union  college 


CIIUKCHES   OF   KOCIIESTKR.  53 

and  Princeton  Theological  seminary  ;  held  ministerial 
cliarges  at  Piffard,  Seneca  Falls,  Calvary  church, 
Eojht'ster,  was  Principal  of  Geneseo  academy,  and 
was  pastor  of  a  church  in  the  pleasant  village  of 
Wyoming,  which  he  recently  left  on  account  of  ill 
health,  having  served  with  eminent  ability  and  useful- 
ness. 

Rev.  Bellville  Roberts  spent  four  years  of  earnest 
effort  in  the  pastorate  of  this  church,  witnessing 
many  results  of  his  ministry,  and  then  removed  to 
Wheeling,  Va.,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  an 
able  and  faithful  pi-eacher. 

Rev.  Alfred  Yeomans,  a  native  of  N.  Adams,  Mass., 
and  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  John  W,  Yeomans,  moderator  of 
gv'iieral  assembly  in  1S60,  was  educated  at  Princeton 
college  and  seminary ;  ministered  to  churches  at 
New  Hampton,  N.  J.,  Rochester  (Calvary),  Bellefonte, 
Penn.,  and  now  at  Orange,  N.  J.,  as  successor  of  his 
brother,  Rev.  E.  D.  Y^eomans,  D.D.,  formerly  of  St. 
Peter"  s.  Ill  health  compelled  these  frequent  changes, 
always  to  the  regret  of  the  people  whom  he  ably  and 
usefully  served. 

Rev.  Henry  W.  Morris  is  a  native  of  Wales  ;  was 
educated  in  England,  and  has  passed  his  ministerial 
life  in  America.  His  first  pastorate  was  a  Presbyterian 
church  at  Martinburgh,  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.  ;  his  sec- 
ond at  Little  Falls.  He  took  charge  of  Calvary  church 
in  1807,  wliere  he  is  meeting  his  duties  with  great  satis- 
faction in  a  section  of  the  city  demanding  much  labor 
and  patience. 


54  CHUKCIIES    OF   KOCHESTER. 

SUMM:>±1^.r,  JUZY  f,  787^. 

Pastor — Rev.  Henry  W.  Morris. 

^M(?r5— Messrs.  William  Stebbins,  David  L.  Hunn, 
and  F.  S.  Stebbins. 

Deacons — None. 

Trustees — Messrs.  F.  S.  Stebbins,  Thomas  S.  Oliver, 
Judson  Knickerbocker,  D.  L.  Hunn,  and  C.  B.  Corser. 

>S^.  ^.  Superintendent — J.  R.  Reeves. 

8.  S.  Pu2nls— 70. 

Total  Member s7dp — 118. 


SAINT  PETEK'S  CHUKCH. 


In  May,  1852,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Rochester, 
then  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  com- 
menced the  construction  of  a  new  church  edilice  upon 
a  lot  of  land  owned  by  him  on  Grove  street.  The  lo- 
cation was  central  to  a  large  American  population 
with  no  place  of  worship.  His  desire  was  to  supply 
this  imperative  demand  by  the  organization  of  a  new 
Presbyterian  church,  and  with  an  order  of  worship 
which  should  more  fully  develop  the  united  devotion 
of  the  whole  congregation  than  is  now  customary  in 
churches  of  that  denoniinaion. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1852,  the  corner-stone  of  Saint 
Peter's  was  laid  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Mcllvaine,  D.D.,  of  the 
First  church,  with  an  appropriate  address  ;  other  parts 
of  the  service  being  taken  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Hill  and 
"Ward  of  the  Presbyterian,  Rev.  W.  H.  Goodwin, 
D.D.,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  Rev.  Mr.  Howard 
of  the  Baptist,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Chester  Dewey  of  the 
Congregational  churches.  The  edifice  was  completed 
at  an  expense  of  $3o,0()0,  and  dedicated  on  the  25th  of 
October,  1853 ;  the  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Mcllvaine,  and  other  parts  conducted  by  Rev.  A. 
G.  Hall,  D.D.,  Rev.  F.  DeW.  AVard,  D.D.,  of  Gen- 


56  CHURCHES   OF   KOCIIESTEU. 

eseo,  and  other  clergymen.  The  first  Sabbath  service 
was  lield  October  B,  IS.k^,  tlie  sermon  being  preached 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Huntington,  thtMi  of  Albany  and  now  of 
Auburn  Theological  seminary. 

The  order  of  public  service  tlien  adopted,  and  main- 
tained to  the  present  time,  with  sliglit  changes,  is  as 
follows : 

1.  Salutation  and  doxology, 

2.  ProfessioQ  of  faith,  in  the  use  of  the  Apostles' 
Creed,  by  minister  and  people. 

ii.  Invocation,  and  the  Lord's  Prayer,  the  people 
joining  in  the  latter. 

4.  Reading  the  Ten  Commandments,  with  a  response 
by  the  choir. 

5.  Invitation,  and  confession  of  sin. 

6.  Hymn. 

7.  Reading  the  Scriptures. 

8.  Anthem. 

9.  Reading  Psalter  by  minister  and  people  respons- 
ively. 

10.  Hymn. 

11.  General  prayer. 

12.  Anthem. 
18.  Sermon. 

14.  Closing  prayer  (brief). 

15.  Doxology. 

16.  Benediction.  ^ 

The  above  is  the  order  of  morning  service ;  the 
evening  service  is  slightly  diflerent,  as  also  on  special 
occasions.  A  Book  of  Worship  is  used  by  minister 
and  congregation,    containing  the  order  of  service, 


CHURCHES   OF   KOCHESTER.  '       57 

both  general  and  special ;  tlie  chants  and  anthems  be- 
ing generall}^  sung  by  the  choir,  and  hymns  by  the 
choir  and  people.  The  officiating  minister  wears  the 
ordinary  black  gown  and  the  bands  in  conducting  all 
the  services.  No  form  of  prayer  is  used  except  the 
Lord's  Prayer. 

A  record  has  been  kept  of  every  Sabbath  service 
since  the  opening  of  the  house,  which  contains  the 
names  of  U\o  hundred  and  forty-nine  clergymen,  of 
whom  eleven  were  ex-Moderatois  of  the  Presbyterian 
General  Assemblys. 

On  the  13tli  of  December,  1853,  a  special  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Rochester  city  (old  school)  was  held 
at  the  chapel  of  Saint  Peter' s,  at  which  the  following 
persons  presented  certificates  of  dismission  from  the 
various  churches  mentioned,  and  were  constituted  by 
Presbytery  "The  Saint  Peter's  Presbyterian  church 
of  the  city  of  Rochester." 

Levi  A.,  Harriet,  Mary  E.  and  William  H.  Ward, 
Lorenzo  D.  and  Caroline  C.  Ely,  Lowell  and  Chloe 
Bullen,  Mrs.  Susan  W.  Selden,  Miss  Ellen  M.  Kemp, 
Miss  Jane  Bradburj^,  and  Mrs.  Emily  Chumasero, 
from  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Rochester ; 
Dr.  John  F.  and  Elizabeth  A.  Whitbeck,  from  the 
Brick  church  ;  Edward  A.  and  Eugenie  C.  Raymond, 
Samuel  B.  and  Harriet  M.  Raymond,  Mrs.  Caroline 
E.  McAlpine,  and  Mrs.  Caroline  B.  Dwinelle,  from  the 
Third  church  ;  James,  Mrs.  Resinah  and  Miss  Ann 
E.  Murray,  from  Washington  street  church  ;  Mrs. 
Betsey  L.  Oothout,  from  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Holley,  N.  Y.  ;  Mrs.  Emily  R.  Beckwith,  from  Saint 
John' s  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Rochester  ;  Mrs. 


68       •  CHtJECHES   OF   KOCHESTER. 

Mary  Ann  Holyland,  from  Free  Baptist  church, 
Rochester ;  John  S.  and  Chloe  Dean,  from  Congrega- 
tional church,  Armsville. 

Of  the  twenty-eight  founders  of  Saint  Peter' s,  eleven 
are  still  members  of  this  church.  At  this  first  meet- 
ing an  election  of  officers  was  held,  which  resulted  in 
the  unanimous  choice  of  Messrs.  L.  A.  Ward  and  Ed- 
ward A.  Raymond  as  elders,  their  ordination  taking 
place  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  January,  1854 ;  Rev.  A. 
Gr.  Hall,  D.D.,  by  appointment  of  Presbytery,  con- 
ducting the  services,  which  were  preceded  by  a  sermon 
from  Rev.  Dr.  Mcllvaine. 

Edward  A.  Raymond  was  chosen  clerk  and  treasu- 
rer of  session  on  the  12tli  of  December,  1853,  and  has 
so  continued  to  the  present  time,  with  the  exception 
of  three  years,  when  he  was  absent  from  the  city. 

PASTORS   AND   STATED   SUPPLIES. 

Rev.  John  T.  Coit  was  stated  supply  from  Septem- 
ber 3,  1854,  to  January  7,  1855. 

Rev.  Leonard  W.  Bacon  was  stated  supply  from 
March  25,  1855,  to  September  16,  1855. 

Rev.  Richard  H.  Richardson  was  installed  first 
pastor  June  10,  1856  (sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hall),  and 
resigned  November  30,  1857. 

Rev.  Everard  Kempshall  was  stated  supply  from 
December  23,  1857,  to  May  16,  1?58. 

Rev.  Joseph  H.  Towne,  D.D.,  was  installed  second 
pastor  October  28, 1858  (sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.McHvaine), 
and  resigned  March  9,  1860. 

Rev.  John  T.  Coit  was  installed  as  third  pastor 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  59 

(sermon  by  Rev.  William  James,  D.D.,  of  Albany) 
June  3,  1860,  and  died  at  Albion  January  23,  1863. 

Rev.  E.  D.  Yeomans,  D.D.,  was  installed  fourth 
pastor  June  7,  1863  (sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hall),  and 
resigned,  on  account  of  failing  health,  April  28,  1867. 
He  died  at  Orange,  N.  J.,  August,  1869. 

Rev.  James  M.  Crowell,  D.D.,  was  installed  fifth 
pastor  May  16,  1869  (sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Hall),  and 
resigned  December  6,  1870. 

The  church  is  now  without  a  pastor. 

ELDERS. 

Messrs.  Levi  A.  Ward  and  Edward  A,  Raymond 
were  elected  at  the  organization  of  the  church,  and  are 
still  in  ofSce.  Messrs.  William  Slocomb  and  Hiram 
Banker  were  elected  November  10,  1858.  The  former, 
now  in  his  ninetieth  year,  is  too  much  of  an  invalid  to 
leave  his  home ;  the  latter  died  September  22,  1864. 
Mr.  Jerome  B.  Stillson  was  ordained  and  installed 
August  3,  1860  ;  and  Mr.  David  A.  Mitchell  April  24, 
1864,  and  died  June  22,  1866.  Messrs.  Jonathan  E. 
Pierpont  and  Marcus  K.  Woodbury  were  ordained 
and  installed  July  24,  1870. 

DEACONS. 

Messrs.  Joseph  B.  Ward  and  Marcus  K.  Woodbury 
were  ordained  and  installed  March  13,  1869.  Mr. 
Woodbury  having  been  elected  a  ruling  elder,  the 
active  duties  of  the  office  are  performed  by  Mr.  Ward. 


60.  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

TRUSTEES. 

The  first  elected  were  Messrs.  Samuel  L.  Selden, 
Josiah  W.  Bissell,  Charles  H.  Clark,  B.  R.  McAlpine, 
Lorenzo  D.  Ely,  Samuel  B.  Raymond,  Jerome  B. 
Stillson,  Charles  A.  Jones,  and  Charles  F.  Smith. 
Subsequently  there  were  elected  Messrs.  John  W. 
Dwinelle,  Hubbard  S.  Allis,  M.  K.  Woodbury,  George 
P.  Townsend,  Joseph  B.  Ward,  AVallace  Barrow, 
Simeon  L.  Brewster,  L.  Ward  Clarke,  P.  B.  Veile,  J. 
E.  Pierpont,  and  W.  S.  Kimball. 

SABBATH  SCHOOL. 

Was  organized  December,  1853,  with  forty-one 
scholars.  The  superintendents  have  been  Messrs.  E, 
A.  Raymond,  until  1857 ;  L.  A.  Ward,  until  1860 ; 
Joseph  B.  Ward,  until  1865  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Yeomans,  pas- 
tor, a  few  months  ;  J.  E.  Pierpont,  until  1866  ;  E.  N. 
Hoyt,  until  1868;  when  Mr.  John  W.  Stebbins  was 
chosen,  and  is  now  in  office.  The  Sabbath  scliool  has 
regularly  and  largely  contributed  to  the  benevolent 
operations  of  tlie  church. 

George  Kemp  Ward,  a  member  of  this  Sabbath 
school  and  church,  is  now  pursuing  his  theological 
studies  at  Princeton. 

CHURCH   EDIFICE. 

A  deed  of  the  church  property  was  executed  and 
delivered  to  the  trustees  by  the  founder  March  27, 
1867.     The  first  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire  March 


CHURCHES   OF   EOCHESTER.  61 

18.  1868,  but  was  immediately  rebuilt  at  an  expense  of 
about  $49,000.  During  the  interim  services  were  held 
in  Christ's  church  chapel  (Episcopal)  and  Second 
Baptist  church,  the  use  of  which  churches  had  been 
tendered  in  a  spirit  of  christian  generosity  which  was 
gratefully  appreciated  by  the  afflicted  parish.  Wor- 
ship was  resumed  in  the  reconstructed  chapel  Janua- 
ry 24, 1869,  and  in  the  main  audience  room  June  6, 1869. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  Kichard  H,  Richardson,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of 
Lexington,  Ky.,  and  graduate  of  Princeton  college 
and  Theological  seminary ;  was  pastor  of  the  North 
Presbyterian  church  of  Chicago,  which  he  left  to  as- 
sume charge  of  Saint  Peter' s,  and  after  a  pastorate  of 
one  and  a  half  years,  resigned  and  removed  to  Red- 
bank,  Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  then  to  JSTewburyport, 
Mass.,  and  thence  to  Trenton,  N.  J.,  where  he  now 
resides,  as  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  church. 
A  gentleman  of  scholarship  and  pulpit  power,  his 
ministrations  have  been  eminently  successful  in  the 
several  places  of  his  abode  and  public  services. 

Rev.  Joseph  H  Towne,  D.D.,  came  to  this  city  from 
Chicago  ;  presided  over  Saint  Peter's  for  two  years, 
and  left  for  Milwaukee,  and  then  for  Buffalo.  His 
lectures  on  ' '  Pilgrim' s  Progress ' '  will  be  long  remem- 
bered in  this  parish  and  in  the  city. 

Rev.  John  Townsend  Coit,  son  of  George  and  Han- 
nah T.  Coit,  was  a  native  of  Bnff'alo,  N.  Y. ;  a  gradu- 
ate of  Yale  college  and  Andover  Theological  seminary. 
Returning  from  Germany,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 


62  CHUECHES   OF   KOCHESTER. 

for  one  and  a  half  years  at  Gottingen  and  Halle,  under 
Professor  Tholuck  and  gifted  associates,  lie  accepted 
a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Albion,  which  po- 
sition he  held  for  five  years,  commencing  his  ministry 
as  third  pastor  of  Saint  Peter's  June  1,  1860.  He  was 
no  stranger  to  the  people  here,  having  acted  as  stated 
supply,  after  returning  from  Europe.  Three  years 
passed  away  with  entire  satisfaction  and  much  profit 
to  his  increasingly  attached  parishioners,  when  upon 
a  visit  to  his  friends  at  Albion  he  was  suddenly  called 
to  a  higher  sphere  of  labor  and  purer  worship  above. 
When  told  that  he  could  live  but  a  short  time,  he  said, 
''Doctor,  you  surprise  me  ;  I  never  dreamed  of  this  ; 
but  I  can  say  with  truth  that  I  am  ready,  nay,  joyous, 
to  go."  After  some  moments  of  rest,  he  asked,  as  in 
surprise,  "  Can  this  be  death  ?  Then  how  beautiful  it 
is  to  die  !  I  already  see  the  coming  glories  !  This  is 
paradise!  Death  has  no  appalling  features."  "Doc- 
tor," said  he,  "is  it  not  strange  that  when  dying  as  I 
know  my  body  is,  my  mind  should  apprehend  these 
things  so  clearly  V     Well  might  by-standers  exclaim, 

"Is  that  a  death-bed  where  a  christian  has?" 
"Yes,  but  not  his;  'c  is  death  itself  there  dies." 

A  tablet  of  Nova  Scotia  stone,  placed  on  the  right 
of  the  pulpit,  reads  thus : 

"John  Townsend  Coit. 
Died  JanV  23,  1863,  in  the  39th  year  of  his  age,  and 
the  third  of  his  pastorate  of  this  church.  His  life  of 
faithful  devotion  to  his  work,  made  beautiful  by  a 
character  of  rare  purity  and  symmetry,  was  crowned 
by  a  death  of  triumphant  hope." 


CnURCHES   OF   EOCHESTER.  63 

Rev.  Edward  Dorr  Yeomans,  D.D.,  son  of  the  late 
Dr.  J.  W.  Yeomans  (moderator  of  general  assembly  in 
1860),  was  born  at  North  Adams,  Mass.;  pursued  his 
classical  studies  at  Easton,  Pa.,  and  his  theological 
at  Princeton  ;  was  licensed  to  preach  at  the  early  age 
of  seventeen  and  a  half  years ;  became  minister  of 
churches  in  Warren  Run,  Penn.,  Fourth  Presbyterian 
of  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  in  May,  1863,  assumed  the 
pastorate  of  St.  Peters,  in  this  city,  which  position 
he  held  with  marked  ability  until  his  removal  to 
Orange,  N.  J.  Here  he  labored  with  whatever 
strength  was  given  him,  till  August  23d,  when  he  died 
of  apoplexy.  The  immediate  cause  of  his  early  and 
lamented  death  was  overtasking  his  brain  in  sermon 
writing  and  translation  of  Lange's  Commentary  on 
John,  with  similar  and  unremitting  exertion  of  his 
mental  powers  and  nervous  energ}^.  As  a  strong  think- 
er, a  close  student,  and  an  accomplished  scholar.  Dr. 
Yeomans  has  had  few  equals. 

A  beautiful  tablet,  in  bronze  —  the  Christmas  gift  of 
a  parishioner  —  has  been  placed  on  the  inner  wall  of 
the  church  on  the  left  of  the  pulpit,  with  the  follow- 
ing inscription  engraved  upon  it  in  illuminated  letters  : 

"Edward  Dorr  Yeomans,  D.D. 
Pastor  MDCCCLXIII-LXVII. 
Learned  in  the  Scriptures  and  the  Fathers  ;  eloquent 
and  faithful  in  his  ministry  ;    he  iinished  his  work  at 
noon-day  and    went    to    his    rest    August   XXYII, 
MDCCCLX VIII— Aged  XXXIX  years." 

James  M.  Crowell,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  ; 
made  a  profession  of  religion  at  the  age  of  fourteen, 


64  ciruRciiES  OF  Rochester. 

under  the  ministry  of  his  cousin,  Rev.  John  Crowell, 
D.D.,  now  of  Odessa,  Del.  ;  graduated  at  Princeton 
college  (of  which  he  is  now  a  trustee)  and  seminary  ; 
has  ministered  at  Octarara,  Penn.,  and  the  Seventh 
Presbyterian  church  of  Philadelphia,  and  removed  to 
Rochester  as  pastor  of  Saint  Peter's  from  May  5,  1869, 
to  December,  1870,  when  he  returned  to  his  native 
city  to  enter  upon  a  new  enterprise  —  the  Woodland 
church,  where  he  now  resides.  Laborious,  earnest, 
fervent  and  practical,  his  ministry  has  been  and  is 
likely  to  continue  successful  in  leading  sinners  to  the 
Saviour  and  saints  to  higher  attainments  of  holiness. 


Pastor — 

Ulders— Messrs.  L.  A.  Ward,  Edward  A.  Ray- 
mond, William  Slocomb,  Jonathan  E.  Pierpont,  and 
Marcus  K.  AYoodbur}^ 

Deacon — Mr.  Joseph  B.  Ward. 
S.  S.  Superintendents — Mr.  John  W.  Stebbins  and 
Mrs.  John  C.  Chumasero. 
Number  of  Scholars — 383. 
Number  of  Cliurch  Communicants — 248. 

Trustees — Messrs.  Lorenzo  D.  Ely,  Freeman  Clarke, 
John  C.  Chumasero,  Daniel  Lowry,  Theodore  Bacon, 
W.  H.  Ward,  D.  P.  Westcott,  F.  B.  Mitchell,  and 
Abraham  Bebee. 


WESTMINSTER  CHURCH. 


On  the  29th  of  June,  1856,  a  Sunday  school  was  or- 
ganized in  a  building  at  the  corner  of  West  avenue 
and  Prospect  streets.  It  was  sustained  as  a  Mission 
school  by  the  Central  Presbyterian  church,  then  un- 
der the  pastorate  of  Rev.  F.  F.  Ellinwood,  D.D.,  and 
was  under  the  care  of  the  late  William  S.  Bishop, 
Esq. 

About  the  same  time,  another  Sunday  school  was 
organized  in  a  small  house  —  which  was  used  a  short 
time  for  a  hotel  —  opposite  Saint  Mary's  Hospital, 
West  avenue,  and  was  known  as  the  "West  End 
Sunday  school."  The  classes,  scattered  throughout 
the  building  (one  even  in  the  pantry),  were  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  late  Col.  John  H.  Thompson. 

In  the  year  1859  a  chapel  was  built  on  West  avenue, 
about  half  way  between  the  places  where  these  schools 
were  held,  and  the  two  were  united  as  a  Mission 
school,  under  the  care  of  Central  church.  The  first 
session  of  the  school  was  held  in  the  chapel,  January 
8,  1860,  William  S.  Bishop,  Esq.,  conducting  it. 

Mr.  George  W.  Parsons  was  elected  superintendent, 
and  continued  in  charge  till  January  19,  1862,  the 
school  having  a  large  attendance. 


66  CHURCHES   OF   ROCnESTER. 

Mr.  Parsons,  then  superintendent  of  three  schools, 
feeling  the  need  of  relief  from  some  of  the  responsi- 
bility, at  this  time  resigned,  and  Mr.  Henry  Churchill 
was  elected  to  fill  his  place,  and  held  the  office  till 
April,  1868,  the  numbers  continuing  to  increase  till 
often  four  hundred  were  present. 

During  part  of  the  years  1861-2  Rev.  Anson  Glea- 
son,  for  many  years  a  successful  missionary  among  the 
Mohicans  of  Connecticut,  and  other  Indian  tribes, 
labored  in  the  vicinity  and  held  preaching  services  and 
prayer  meetings  in  the  chapel. 

In  October  of  the  year  1867,  the  Young  People's 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Central  church,  engaged 
Mrs.  L.  A.  Shepard  to  act  as  a  city  missionary  in  the 
the  vicinity  of  West  avenue.  Her  work  was  very 
successful  —  visiting  from  house  to  house,  holding  re- 
ligious conversation,  distributing  tracts,  etc. 

Prayer  meetings  were  held  at  private  houses,  con- 
versions were  numerous,  and  thus  it  seemed  necessary 
that  a  church  should  be  organized. 

Accordingly,  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  April,  1868, 
eighty-two  members  of  the  Central  church,  then  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S.  M.  Campbell,  D.D.,  request- 
ed letters,  and  were  formerly  organized  as  the  West- 
minster Presbyterian  church  of  Rochester,  Rev.  F.  F. 
Ellin  wood,  D.D.,  assisting  in  the  services  of  that  in- 
teresting occasion. 

The  colony  went  forth  from  a  sense  of  duty,  trust- 
ing in-  God  to  sustain  and  strengthen  them.  Nor 
were  they  disappointed,  for,  as  the  result  of  a  revival 
that  year,  not  only  was  the  number  made  good  to  the 
Central  church,  but  the  membership  of  the  new  colony 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  67 

was  just  doubled.  The  congregation  and  membersliip 
continued  to  increase,  and  the  prayer  meetings,  of 
which  five  were  maintained  each  week,  were  generally 
very  interesting.  During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1870 
the  church  worked  at  a  disadvantage,  being  engaged 
in  building  a  new  edifice.  After  many  delays  and 
some  sacrifices,  the  building  was  completed  and  for- 
mally dedicated  to  the  service  of  God,  Jan.  26,  1871. 
Dr.  Campbell  preached  the  sermon,  taking  for  his 
topic,   "  Tokens  of  prosperity." 

The  Central  church  had  shared  in  the  support  of  its 
child,  and  had  contributed  handsomely  toward  the 
building  fund,  and  on  the  night  of  the  dedication 
came  forward  with  large  gifts  to  relieve  the  present 
necessities.  The  church  was  also  the  recipient  of  a 
fine  toned  memorial  bell  from  one  of  the  elders,  and  a 
handsome  organ  from  A.  Champion,  Esq. 

At  the  end  of  only  three  years  the  Westminster 
church  has  risen  from  a  mission  chapel  to  a  condition 
of  self-reliance  and  self-support,  with  a  pleasant^ 
cheerful  building,  and  beautiful  Sabbath  school  room 
attached,  a  good  congregation,  an  active,  liberal  mem- 
bership, and  evidences  of  the  presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  their  midst. 

The  new  church  went  out  under  the  care  of  Rev. 
Henry  Morey,  who  is  giving  his  people  youthful  vigor 
and  hearty  earnestness,  and  whose  labor  has  been 
very  acceptable. 

ELDERS. 

The  first  elders  were,  Messrs.  Truman  A.  Clark  and 


68  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

George  M.  Mitchell,  with  the  recent  addition  of  Mr. 
Henry  Gr.  Wood. 

PASTOR. 

Rev.  Henry  M.  Morey  was  born  in  West  Bloomfield, 
N.  Y. ;  pursued  his  preparatory  studies  at  Geneseo 
academy  ;  graduated  at  Union  college  and  Princeton 
seminary  ;  was  assistant  for  the  winter  of  1865  of  the 
late  Dr.  J.  M.  Lowry,  in  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. ;  supplied 
the  church  at  Pittsford  for  two  years,  and  came  to 
Rochester  in  April,  1868. 


Pastor — Rev.  Henry  M.  Morey. 

Elders — Truman  A.   Clark,  Henry  G.  Wood,  and 
George  M.  Mitchell. 

S.  S.  Superintendent — Truman  A.  Clark. 

Number  of  Teachers — 43. 

Number  of  Scholars — 375. 

Number  of  Church  Communicants — 180. 


THE  REFORMED  CHURCH. 


,  An  organization  with  this  official  name  was  perfect- 
ed in  the  year  1835,  witli  twenty-nine  members,  of 
whom  the  following  are  still  in  communion,  viz  :  Mrs. 
Jane  Campbell,  John  and  Elizabeth  Boyd,  Mrs,  Mar- 
tha Robinson,  Mrs.  Jane  Montgomery,  Mrs.  Jane 
Brown,  and  Mr.  John  Lowry.  The  first  place  of  meet- 
ing was  the  High  School  building,  which  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  church,  corner  of  Tem- 
ple and  Lancaster  streets.  Subsequently  an  edifice 
was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Stillson  and  Main  streets, 
which  after  occupancy  for  many  years  has  been  sold 
for  business  purposes,  and  the  avails  applied  to  erect- 
ing one  larger,  more  attractive  and  commodious,  on 
North  St.  Paul,  near  Andrews  street. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  John  Fish,  of  Ireland,  a  man  of  great  elo- 
quence and  pulpit  power.  He  lived  but  a  short  time, 
and  is  buried  at  Mount  Hope. 

Rev.  C.  B.  McKee  followed  Mr.  Fish,  in  1835,  but 
resigned  in  1842,  and  has  since  deceased.  His  re- 
mains now  repose  in  Mount  Hope  cemetery. 


70  CHURCHES   OF   EOCHESTER. 

Rev.  David  Scott  was  born  in  a  village  near  Glas- 
cow,  Scotland  ;  graduated  at  the  University  of  Glas- 
cow  and  at  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  seminary, 
Paisle}^,  of  which  the  late  Dr.  Andrew  Symington  was 
the  distinguished  professor ;  came  to  America  as  a 
licensiate  in  1829 ;  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist  in 
1832 ;  was  installed  pastor  of  a  church  at  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  in  1836  ;  assumed  the  pastorate  of  the  Rochester 
congregation  in  1844,  as  successor  of  Rev.  Mr.  McKee, 
and  after  a  laborious  and  eminently  successful  min^ 
istry,  demitted  his  charge  in  1862,  though  still  making 
his  home  in  the  city,  supplying  neighboring  pulpits 
and  acting  as  professor  in  the  Theological  seminary  at 
AUlegheny,  Pa.,  till  March  29,  1871,  when  he  "fell 
asleep  in  Jesus,"  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

"Servant  of  Christ,  well  done; 

Rest  from  thy  lov'd  employ: 
The  battle  fought — the  victory  won — 

Enter  thy  Master's  joy." 

Rev,  R.  D.  Sproule  is  a  native  of  Allegheny,  Pa. ; 
a  graduate  of  Jefferson  college,  and  of  Allegheny 
seminary.  After  supplying  the  congregation  made 
vacant  by  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr,  Scott,  he  was  unani- 
mously called  to  the  pastorate  and  installed  in  1863, 
where  he  now  labors  with  earnest  zeal  and  fidelity 
among  a  devoted  and  prosperous  people. 

STI.UMji.'Rr,  JULY  A  /(S-r/. 

Pastor — Rev.  R.  D.  Sproule. 

Elders — Messrs.  Hugh  Mulholland,  Robert  Alton, 
Hugh  Robinson,  James  Campbell,  and  Robert  Wilson. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  71 

Deacons — Messrs.  James  Aiton,  Abraham  Errnessie, 
John  Lowry,  Thomas  S.  Lynn,  Thomas  Percey,  John 
Q.  Parks,  Thomas  A.  Gormley,  and  Samuel  G.  Rob- 
inson. 

S.  S.  Superintendent — Elder  Hugh  Robinson. 

No.  of  Sc7iolars—88. 

No.  of  Teachers — 11. 

No.  of  Communicants — 130. 

Note. — One  young  man,  Rev.  John  Middleton,  a 
member  of  this  church,  after  laboring  in  the  ministry 
at  Perth,  Canada,  Listen,  N.  Y.,  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
and  Stanton,  111.,  has  been  compelled,  through  ill 
health,  to  suspend  his  loved  employment  of  preach- 
ing the  Gospel  of  Jesus  to  lost  men. 


FIRST  UNITED  CHUKCH. 


In  the  spring  of  1848,  Rev.  Jolm  VanEaton,  of  the 
Associate  Reformed  Synod,  preached  three  Sabbaths 
in  the  school  house  near  Saint  Luke's  church.  Ap- 
pearances being  favorable,  Mr.  VanEaton  remained 
and  held  divine  services  from  August,  1848,  to  May, 
1849,  in  a  school  house  on  the  corner  of  Troup  street 
and  Plymouth  avenue.  On  the  evening  of  September 
21,  1849,  an  organization  was  perfected  under  the 
title  of  the  First  Associate  Reformed  church  of  Roches- 
ter, with  the  following  named  persons  as  communi- 
cants :  Robert  Bell,  Mrs.  Martha  Bell,  Robert  John- 
son, James  and  Eliza  Reid,  William  and  Janet  R. 
Muir,  John  Burdock,  William  Hamilton,  Mrs.  (Rev.) 
VanEaton,  William  and  Rachel  Hart,  Hannah  Bud- 
dock,  Jane  Hamilton,  Ann  and  Christina  Semple, 
William  and  Catherine  Gr.  Fisher,  Alexander  and 
Mary  J.  Adams,  Alexander  and  Margaret  Blair,  and 
Margaret  Hamilton.  Of  these  twenty-three  founders, 
eight  are  deceased,  ten  removed  to  other  places,  and 
five  are  still  in  communion,  viz :  Robert  and  Mrs. 
Bell,  Robert  Johnson,  William  Hart,  and  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Niven. 

The  first  bench  of  elders  was  Messrs.  William  Ham- 


CHURCHES    OF    ROCHESTER.      .  73 

ilton,   James  Reid,  Williaru  Muir,  Robert  Bell,  and 
William  Leslie. 

Rev.  John  YanEaton  installed  as  first  pastor  in 
1849,  remained  three  years,  when  ill  health  compelled 
him  to  resign,  but  not  till  he  had  seen  "the  work  of 
the  Lord  prosper  in  his  hands." 

On  the  morning  of  September  8,  1850,  the  lately  re- 
constructed house  of  worship  on  Troup  street  and 
Plymouth  avenue  was  consumed  by  fire,  when  services 
were  held  for  four  months  in  the  school  house  on  the 
south  side  of  Allen  street,  between  Fitzhugh  and  State, 
and  subsequently  in  a  building  on  the  corner  of  Court 
and  Stone  streets  (east  side),  continuing  there  till  1864, 
when  a  purchase  was  made  of  the  church  on  Allen 
street,  near  Fitzhugh. 

Succeeding  Rev.  Mr.  YanEaton  was  Rev.  W.  L. 
McAdams,  who  was  installed  June  6, 1854,  and  resigned 
after  an  acceptable  and  useful  pastorate  of  two  years 
and  eight  months.  Then  followed  a  vacancy  of  eight 
months,  when  Rev.  Thomas  F.  Bond  assumed  the 
ministerial  charge,  and  remained  four  years  and  five 
months.  Two  years  then  passed  away,  when  the  Rev. 
James  P.  Sankey,  the  present  incumbent,  was  induct- 
ed into  the  pastoral  office  on  the  30tli  of  June,  1864  ; 
the  installation  services  being  conducted  by  Rev.  F. 
M.  Proctor,  now  of  Ohio,  Rev.  J.  YanEaton,  of  York, 
and  Donald  McLaren,  D.D.,  of  Geneva.  Under  the 
able  ministrations  and  watchful  care  of  their  present 
accomplished,  energetic,  and  faithful  leader,  this 
church  is  taking  rank  among  the  strong  and  influential 
ecclesiastical  bodies  of  the  city. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1868,  the  Associated  Reformed. 


74  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

Presbyterian  chnrcli,  and  the  Associate  Presbyterian 
church  effected  an  organic  union  under  the  title  of  the 
"United  Presbyterian  church  of  North  America,"  with 
a  total  of  seven  hundred  and  seventeen  churches,  and 
live  hundred  and  forty-one  ministers.  This  consolida- 
tion changed  the  name  of  this  body  from  the  First 
Associate  Reformed  church  of  Rochester,  to  the  Unit- 
ed Presbyterian  church  of  Rochester  —  the  name  at 
the  head  of  this  chapter. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  John  VanEaton,  a  native  of  Xenia,  Ohio, 
and  graduate  of  Miami  university,  and  Oxford  (A. 
R.  P.)  Theological  university  of  the  same  State,  com- 
menced his  j)astorate  of  this  church  in  1849,  continu- 
ing until  driven  away  by  the  ill  health  of  himself  and 
family.  Since  September  1,  1853,  he  has  been  pastor 
Df  a  large,  flourishing  and  influential  church  at  York, 
Livingston  county.  New  York. 

Rev.  W.  L.  McAdams,  pastor  here  for  nearly  three 
jrears,  now  resides  in  Mercer  county.  Pa.,  having  been 
obliged  to  cease  preaching  on  account  of  ill  health. 

Rev.  Thomas  F.  Boyd,  after  a  residence  here  of 
four  and  a  half  years,  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
is  pastor  of  Bethel  and  Beulah  churches  in  that  State. 

Rev.  James  P.  Sankey  was  born  in  Londonderry^, 
Ohio ;  pursued  his  classical  studies  at  Franklin  college, 
and  his  theological  at  Allegheny  city,  Penn.;  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  April,  1862,  and  was  placed 
in  charge  of  this  church  by  the  presbytery  of  Caledonia 
June  30,  1864.     Mr.  Sankey  is  junior  pastor  of  the 


CHURCHES   OF    ROCHESTER. 


75 


city,  having  entered  college  at  fourteen  years  of  age, 
and  commenced  preaching  at  twenty- two. 


Pastor — Rev,  James  P.  Sankey. 

Elders — Messrs.     Robert    Bell,    Robert     Sterrett, 
Robert  Johnson,  and  Thomas  Lisle. 

S.  S.  Superintendent — The  pastor. 

JVo.  of  Sc7iolars—31S. 

Church  Communicants — 320. 


Note. — The  enlargement  of  the  present  edifice  is  an 
absolute  necessity.  The  erection  of  a  new  structure 
being  an  event,  it  is  hoped,  not  far  distant. 


EPISCOPALIAN. 


SAINT  LUKE'S  CHURCH. 


The  parish  of  Saint  Luke's  was  organized  by  the 
Rev.  H.  U.  Onderdonk,  missionary  and  rector  of  Saint 
John's  church, Canandaigua,  and  subsequently  Bishop 
of  Pennsylvania,  under  the  corporate  title  of  Saint 
Luke' s  church,  Genesee  Falls.  The  organization  was 
effected  on  the  14th  of  July,  1817,  in  a  school  house 
belonging  to  Samuel  I.  Andrews,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river,  by  the  election  of  Colonel  Nathaniel  Roch- 
ester and  S.  I.  Andrews  as  wardens,  and  for  vestry- 
men, Silas  O.  Smith,  Roswell  Babbitt,  John  Mastick, 
Lewis  Jenkins,  Elislia  Johnson,  Jolin  C.  Rochester, 
William  Atkinson,  and  Oliver  Culver. 

Occasional  services  were  held  for  the  parish  by  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Onderdonk,  G.  H.  Norton,  A.  Welton, 
and  perliaps  others,  in  the  school  house  on  the  lot  ad- 
joining the  present  church  edifice.  When  Bishop 
Hobart  visited  the  parish,  in  September,  1818,  he  con- 
firmed four  persons  in  the  building  belonging  to  the 
First  Presbyterian  society,  which  was  kindly  loaned 
for  the  service.  The  offer  of  the  original  proprietors 
of  "the  100-acre  tract,"  Messrs.  Rochester,  Fitzhugh 
and  Carroll,  to  present  a  lot  to  the  first  religious  so- 
ciety which  would  undertake  the  erection  of  a  church 


80  CHUECHES   OF   EOCHESTER. 

edifice  thereon,  being  still  open,  the  vestry  resolved, 
in  July,  1820,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  proposition. 
A  wooden  building,  thirty-eight  by  forty-six  feet,  was 
immediately  reared,  and  occupied  on  the  following 
Christmas  day.  The  services  of  a  clergyman  had  been 
meanwhile  secured,  and  the  Rev.  Francis  H.  Gumming, 
deacon,  entered  upon  his  duties  as  rector  on  the  first 
Sunday  of  December,  1820.  On  the  20th  of  February, 
1821,  the  little  church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Hobart ;  and  on  the  following  day  the  rector  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  priesthood. 

In  April,  1823,  the  need  of  a  new  edifice  having  be- 
come apparent,  the  vestry  determined  upon  the  erec- 
tion of  a  stone  church,  fifty-three  by  seventy-three 
feet,  the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  the  same 
season.  The  wooden  structure  was  removed  to  the 
rear,  and  served  as  a  Sunday  school  building  until 
1832,  when  it  was  again  removed  and  converted  to 
other  uses.  The  new  church  was  first  occupied  on 
the  first  Sunday  of  September,  1825,  but,  owing  to  the 
absence  of  the  bishop  in  Europe,  was  not  consecrated 
until  September  30,  1826. 

The  year  1827  was  distinguished  by  the  consent  of  the 
vestry  of  Saint  Luke's  to  the  organization  of  a  new 
parish  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  to  be  called  Saint 
Paur  s.  Fifteen  communicants  were  dismissed  to  the 
new  parish,  and  five  to  a  new  organization  called 
Trinity  church,  Penfield. 

In  1828  the  church  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of 
thirty  feet  to  its  length,  rendering  it  capable  of  seat- 
ing one  thousand  persons  ;  and  a  bell  was  at  the  same 
time  procured,  at  a  cost  of  $900. 


CHURCHES   OF   EOCIIESTER.  81 

Tlie  Rev.  Mr.  Gumming  resigned  the  rectorsliip  in. 
March,  1829,  after  an  incumbency  of  eight  years  and 
three  months.  He  was  succeeded,  December  6,  1829, 
by  the  Rev.  Henry  J.  Whitehouse,  who  was  instituted 
by  Bishop  Hobart  August  29, 1830.  In  1832  a  Sunday 
school  and  lecture  room  was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the 
church,  forty-four  by  fifty  feet.  In  the  following  year 
a  charity  school  of  seventy-five  scholars  was  estab- 
lished, upon  the  basis  of  a  free  school  previously  in 
existence,  and  mainly  supported  by  the  Young  La- 
dies' Benevolent  Society  of  Saint  Luke's,  which  con- 
tinued in  active  operation  until  the  present  common 
school  system  was  adopted  in  the  city. 

During  the  rector  s  absence  in  Europe  for  a  year, 
from  September,  1833,  the  Rev.  James  A.  BoUes  was 
appointed  assistant  minister  to  take  charge  of  the 
parish  ;  and  on  the  occasion  of  a  later  foreign  tour,  in 
1836-37,  the  Rev.  N.  F.  Bruce,  M.D.,  occupied  a  sim- 
ilar relation.  After  a  pastorate  of  marked  pros- 
perity and  faithfulness,  lasting  through  fourteen  years 
and  five  months,  Dr.  Whitehouse  resigned.  May  1, 
1844.  On  the  9th  of  May,  the  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Pitkin 
was  elected  rector,  and  assumed  charge  of  the  parish 
July  14,  1844.  He  was  instituted  by  Bishop  DeLan- 
cey  August  11  of  the  same  year.  The  Rev.  John  N. 
Norton  became  assistant  to  the  rector,  with  the  ap- 
proval of  the  vestry,  in  April,  1846.  In  this  year 
Trinity  church  was  organized,  the  consent  and  God- 
speed of  the  vestry  of  Saint  Luke' s  having  been  pre- 
viously given ;  a  large  number  of  the  families  and 
communicants  of  Saint  Luke's  uniting  in  the  new  en- 
terprise.    The  Rev.  Mr.  Pitkin,  finding  his  health  in- 


82  CHURCHES   OF   KOCHESTEK. 

adequate  to  the  care  of  so  large  a  parish,  tendered  his 
resignation,  to  take  effect  July  12,  1847,  after  a  minis- 
try of  three  years.  In  October  the  vacant  rectorship 
was  tendered  to  the  Rev.  Henry  W.  Lee,  which  he  ac- 
cepted, to  enter  upon  his  duties  January  1, 1848.  The 
Rev.  F.  F.  Wardwell,  deacon,  who  had  been  in  charge 
of  the  parish  during  the  vacancy,  remained  as  the 
first  assistant  to  the  rector.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Lee  was 
instituted  February  16,  1848,  by  Bishop  DeLancey. 

He  was  subsequently  enabled,  through  the  contri- 
butions of  the  Ladies'  Missionary  Society,  to  secure 
the  assistance  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Edward  Meyer, 
George  H.  McKnight,  Bethel  Judd,  D.D.,  W.  H.  Bar- 
ris,  George  IST.  Cheney,  George  W.  Watson,  and  T.  A. 
Hopkins,  successively.  During  his  laborious  and  pros- 
perous ministry  of  seven  years,  a  new  organ  replaced 
the  one  erected  in  1825,  and  a  peal  of  bells  was  hung 
in  the  tower.  The  resignation  of  Dr.  Lee  was  caused 
by  his  election  to  the  bishopric  of  Iowa,  which  resigna- 
tion was  accepted  by  the  vestry  "with  unmingled  feel- 
ings of  regret,  and  with  a  grateful  appreciation  of  the 
many  qualities  which  rendered  his  ministry  so  im- 
portant to  the  prosperity  of  the  parish,  and  which  en- 
deared him  to  the  people  of  his  charge."  On  Saint 
Luke's  day,  the  11th  of  October,  1854,  he  was  conse- 
crated to  the  Episcopal  office,  in  the  presence  of  his 
flock,  by  Bishops  Hopkins,  Eastburn,  McCoskry,  De- 
Lancey, Burgess,  and  Whitehouse. 

In  December  of  the  same  year  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Watson  was  elected  rector,  and  on  the  29th  of  the  en- 
suing April  entered  upon  his  duties ;  the  Rev.  T.  A. 
Hopkins  having  ofliciated  in  the  interim.     Soon  after 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  83^ 

his  arrival  in  the  city,  he  held  the  primary  meeting  for 
the  organization  of  a  new  parish,  chiefly  by  parish- 
ioners of  Saint  Luke's  residing  in  the  south-eastern 
portion  of  the  city,  to  be  called  Christ's  church.  Dur- 
ing the  first  year  of  his  ministry  the  church  was  re- 
paired and  improved  at  a  cost  of  $5,000,  a  portion  of 
which  was  provided  for  by  subscription  at  the  time. 
His  institution  took  place  February  14, 1856,  He  was 
assisted  by  the  Revs.  Robert  W.  Lewis  and  C.  E.  Che- 
ney. After  a  ministry  of  four  years  and  three  months, 
considerations  of  health  prompting  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Watson  to  dissolve  his  connection  with  the  church, 
his  resignation  was  accepted,  to  take  effect  August  1, 
1859.  The  Rev.  R.  Bethell  Claxton,  D.D.,  was  ap- 
pointed his  successor,  and  entered  upon  the  rectorship 
December  1,  1859.  On  the  20th  of  the  next  February 
the  rector  was  instituted  by  Bishop  DeLancey,  Bishop 
H.  W.  Lee  preaching  the  sermon.  Dr.  Claxton  was 
indefatigable  in  his  labors  among  the  poorer  members 
of  the  parish,  and  by  means  derived  chiefly  from  the 
Sunday  school  and  the  Young  Ladies'  Missionary  So- 
ciety, he  succeeded,  amid  much  discouragement,  in 
founding  the  chapel  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  in  the 
eleventh  ward.  He  laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  neat 
edifice  of  brick,  September  23,  1863 ;  and  on  the 
31st  of  July  of  the  next  year  he  had  the  satisfaction 
of  opening  the  chapel  for  Divine  service.  The  total 
cost  of  the  lot  and  building  was  upwards  of  $3000. 
In  the  first  year  of  his  ministry  (August,  1860),  a  rec- 
tory was  purchased,  upon  which  $4000  was  paid  ;  and 
in  April,  1865,  the  vestry  took  order  for  rebuilding 
and   .enlarging  the  Sunday  school  accommodations, 


84  CHUKCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

which  work  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $G000,  in  April, 
1866.  The  assistants  of  Dr.  Claxton  were  the  Revs. 
Joseph  Kidder,  Frederick  N.  Luson,  DeWitt  C.  Loop, 
Frederick  M.  Gray,  and  Horatio  Gray.  His  resigna- 
tion was  consequent  upon  his  election  to  the  chair  of 
Professor  of  Pulpit  Eloquence  and  Pastoral  Care  in 
the  Divinity  school  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church 
in  Philadelphia.  It  was  accepted  to  take  effect  Octo- 
ber 1,  1865. 

The  parish,  remaining  for  seven  months  without  a 
rector,  was  served  by  the  Rev.  W.  J.  Clark.  On  the 
.23d  of  April,  1866,  the  Rev.  Henry  Anstice  was  elect- 
ed to  the  rectorship,  which  office  he  still  holds,  and  on 
the  second  Sunday  of  May  he  entered  upon  the  work. 
During  the  same  year  two  lots  were  added  to  the  rec- 
tory grounds,  and  the  interior  of  the  church  remod- 
elled and  thoroughly  refitted  in  every  part.  To  meet 
these  expenses  and  liquidate  an  existing  debt,  $26,500 
were  cheerfully  subscribed. 

While  the  work  was  progressing,  the  congregation 
worshipped  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  through 
the  christian  courtesy  of  its  trustees.  Saint  Luke's 
was  re-opened  on  the  10th  of  March,  1867,  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  A.  C.  Coxe,  D.D.,  and  the  institution  of  the 
rector  followed  on  the  14th  inst., William  Pitkin,  Esq., 
presenting  the  keys  of  the  church,  an  office  he  had 
performed  at  the  institution  of  every  previous  rector. 
The  prosperity  of  the  church  and  its  enlarging  field  of 
usefulness  demanding  it,  provision  was  made  for  an 
additional  assistant  minister,  and  well  sustained  mis- 
sionary services  were  held  in  various  parts  of  the  city. 
On  the  23d  of  July,  1868,  the  rector  laid  the  corner- 


CHURCHES    OF    KOCHESTER.  85 

stone  of  a  new  chapel,  to  be  built  of  brick,  on  Frances 
street,  at  the  head  of  Adams.  On  the  28th  of  Febru- 
ary, 18G9,  the  opening  service  was  held.  The  build- 
ing (since  named  the  chapel  of  the  Epiphany),  is 
neatly  built,  in  early  English  style,  sixty  by  forty-two 
feet  inside,  slate  roofed,  with  four  double  lancet  stained 
glass  windows  on  each  side,  and  a  window  in  front  on 
either  side  of  a  central  tower,  which  is  eighty-two  feet 
high.  The  chapel  is  carpeted  and  furnished  with  bell, 
organ,  font,  and  chancel  furniture.  The  entire  cost 
has  been  eleven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  An 
adjoining  lot  has  been  secured  for  a  parsonage. 

On  Easter  Monday,  1869,  the  rector  presided  at  a 
meeting  to  incorporate  the  chapel  of  the  Good  Shep- 
herd, as  an  independent  church,  and  transferred  forty- 
one  families  and  fifty-one  communicants  from  Saint 
Luke's  to  form  the  nucleus  of  the  new  parish.  The 
assistants  of  the  present  rector  have  been  the  Rev.  M. 
R.  St.  J.  Dillon,  Jacob  Miller,  D.  H.  Lovejoy,  W.  W. 
Raymond,  and  George  S.  Baker.  The  last  named  is 
still  rendering  most  efficient  service  in  the  parish. 

RECTORS. 

The  Rev,  Francis  H.  Gumming,  D.D.,  first  rector  of 
Saint  Luke's,  was  born  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  Octo- 
ber 28,  1799.  His  education  was  chiefly  acquired 
under  the  care  of  the  late  Dr.  Rudd,  at  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.  He  was  ordainegl  deacon  b}^  Bishop  Croes, 
in  Saint  John's,  Elizabeth,  in  1819,  and  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  priesthood  by  Bishop  Hobart,  at  Saint 
Luke's,  in  February,  1821.     His  earliest  ministry  was- 


8b  CHUECHES   OF   KOCHESTEK. 

at  Binghamton,  whence  he  was  called  to  Saint  Ln  W  s 
December,  1820.  Remaining  till  March,  1829,  he  re- 
moved to  Reading,  Pa.,  and  thence  to  Le  Roy,  N.  Y., 
spending  a  year  in  each  place.  In  1833  he  assumed 
the  secretaryship  and  general  agency  for  the  P.  E.  S. 
S.  Union  in  New  York,  which  position  he  retained 
four  years,  at  the  same  time  forming  and  ministering 
to  a  congregation  on  Staten  Island.  Dissolving  his 
connection  with  the  Sunday  School  Union,  he  be- 
came first  rector  of  Calvary  church,  New  York.  In 
October,  1839,  he  accepted  the  rectorship  of  Saint 
Andrew's  church,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  In  1843  he 
removed  to  Saint  Mark's  church.  Grand  Rapids, 
where  for  nearly  nineteen  years,  or  until  called  to  the 
chaplaincy  of  the  Third  regiment,  Mich.  Infantry,  he 
remained.  Leaving  the  army  in  April,  he  returned 
to  his  family  at  Grand  Rapids,  broken  in  health,  and 
died  August  26,  1862. 

Rev.  Henry  John  Whitehouse,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Oxford 
and  Cantab,  is  a  native  of  New  York  city;  a  graduate  of 
Columbia  college  and  the  General  Theological  semin- 
ary; was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  John  Croes,D.D., 
of  New  Jersey,  and  priest  by  Bishop  William  White, 
of  Pennsylvania  ;  spent  two  years  in  Christ's  church, 
Reading,  Penn. ;  came  to  Rochester  in  December, 
1829  ;  leaving  in  May,  1844,  to  assume  the  rectorship 
of  Saint  Thomas'  church  in  his  native  city,  as  succes- 
sor of  Dr.  Hawks,  after  declining  the  presidency  of 
Hobart  college,  Geneva,  the  Ijishopric  of  Michigan,  and 
several  other  important  posts.  In  1851  he  went  to 
Illinois,  as  assistant  to  Bishop  Chase,  and  upon  the 
death  of    that  venerable  prelate,  became   Episcopal 


CHURCHES    OF    ROCHESTER.  87 

diocesan  of  Illinois,  his  residence  being  Chicago. 
Bishop  Whitehouse  visited  Europe  during  1865  and 
1868,  traveling  extensively,  taking  an  active  part  in 
Italian  reform,  acting  'for  the  Bishop  of  London  in 
visitations  of  churches  in  Denmark  and  Sweden,  con- 
secrating a  church  at  Stockholm,  and  performing 
other  services  there  and  in  Russia.  Bishop  White- 
house  was  mainly  instrumental  in  effecting  the  Lam- 
beth Pan-Anglican  Synod,  and  preached,  by  invitation 
of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  opening  sermon. 
He  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  church  schools.  But 
during  a  public  life  of  many  years  and  high  honors, 
no  part  was  characterized  by  results  of  greater  appar- 
ent benefit  and  marked  by  a  fuller  realization  of  min- 
isterial success,  than  that  of  his  rectorship  of  Saint 
Luke's,  in  this  ciiy.  His  Lent  lectures  and  Bible 
class  instructions  will  long  live  in  the  grateful  recol- 
lections of  the  many  who  attended  upon  them  through 
successive  j^ears. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Clapp  Pitkin,  D.D.,  was  born  at 
Farmington,  Conn.  ;  graduated  at  Yale  college  and 
the  General  Theological  seminary ;  ministered  at 
Lawrenceburgh,  Ind.,  and  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  be- 
came rector  of  Saint  Luke's  in  July,  1844.  After  a 
pastorate  of  three  years  he  went  to  Trinity  church, 
New  Haven,  in  the  relation  of  associate  to  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Croswell ;  removed  thence  to  Saint  Peter' s,  Albany, 
and  subsequently  became  associate  with  Dr.  Shelton 
at  Saint  Paul' s,  Buffalo. , 

The  Right  Rev.  Henry  Washington  Lee,  D.D., 
LL.D.,  Cantab,  is  a  native  of  Hampden,  Conn.,  but 
early  removed  to  Springfield,  Mass.,  where  his  father, 


88  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

Col.  Rosewell  Lee,  was  for  forty  years  superintendent 
of  the  United  States  armory.  After  a  tliorougli 
academic  education,  he  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Gris- 
wold,  and  for  nine  years  was  rector  of  Christ's  church, 
Springfield.  Accepting  an  invitation  to  the  rectorship 
of  Saint  Luke's,  he  continued  in  that  position  until 
his  elevation  to  the  Bishopric  of  Iowa,  in  October, 
1854,  his  resignation  not  taking  effect,  however,  until 
January,  1855.  In  the  discharge  of  his  Episcopal 
functions.  Dr.  Lee  has  ever  been  characterized  by  that 
single-hearted  earnestness  and  transparent  sincerity 
which  marked  his  earlier  ministry.  He  is  the  found- 
er, in  1860,  of  Griswold's  college,  Davenport,  in  the 
theological  department  of  which  he  fills  the  chair  of 
Professor  of  Systematic  Divinity ;  and  in  1864  he 
established  the  Bishop  Lee  Female  seminary  at  Du- 
buque. He  was  a  member  of  the  Lambeth  Confer- 
ence, and  received  an  early  decree  from  Cambridge 
university. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Watson,  D.D.,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia ;  graduated  at  Trinity  college  and  the 
General  Theological  seminary.  His  first  parish  was 
Zion  church,  Newport,  R.  I.,  whence  he  was  called  to 
Saint  Luke's,  in  May,  1855.  After  a  rectorship  of 
four  years  and  three  months,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
church  of  the  Atonement,  Philadelphia,  where  he 
still  resides. 

The  Rev.  R.  Bethel  Claxton,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of 
Philadelphia ;  graduated  at  Yale  college  ;  pursued 
his  theological  studies  at  the  Alexandria  seminary, 
Va.  After  a  rectorship  in  Pennsylvania  and  mission- 
ary labors  in  Indiana,  he  became  rector  of  St.  Paul' s, 


CHURCHES   OF   KOCIIESTEK.  89 

Cleveland,  whence  lie  removed  to  accept  the  charge 
of  Saint  Luke's,  in  December,  1859.  Upon  his  elec-. 
tion  to  a  professorship  in  the  Divinity  school,  in  Phil- 
adelphia, he  resigned  his  rectorship,  in  October,  1865. 
He  is  still  engaged  in  the  duties  of  his  chair  in  the 
Divinity  school. 

The  Rev.  Henry  Anstice,  seventh  rector  of  Saint 
Luke's,  is  a  native  of  New  York  city  ;  a  graduate  of 
AVilliams  college,  Mass.,  in  1861,  and  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Divinity  school,  in  186,"5.  He  was  ordained  dea- 
con in  July  and  presbyter  in  November,  of  the  same 
year,  by  Bishop  Potter,  of  New  York.  He  officiated 
atlrvington,  on  the  Hudson,  until  his  acceptance  of  a 
call  to  Saint  Luke's,  in  April,  1866.  He  entered  upon 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  this  relation  ou  the 
second  Sunday  in  May,  and,  after  five  years  of  labor, 
is  still  the  rector  of  this  church. 

Among  the  young  men  who  went  from  thiF,  church 
into  the  ministry  were  :  / 

Rev.  Kendrick  Metcalf,  D.D.,  Professor  "in  Hobart 
college,  Geneva. 

Rev.  William  Stanton,  D.D.,  residing  in.  New  York. 

Rev.  Erastus  Spalding,  who  died  in  Vienna,  N.  Y., 
leaving  four  sons,  all  now  in  the  ministry. 

Rev.  Jeremiah  H.  Waldo,  Springfield,  Hlijiois. 

Rev.  Charles  B.  Stout,  Chicago,  Illraois. 

Rev.  William  T.  Aitkins,  deceased.         / 

Rev.  W.  H.  Hickcox,  Leroy,  Kansas.  / 

Rev.  Ethan  Allen,  deceased. 

Rev.  Henry  Lockwood  (missionary  to  China),  Pitts- 
ford,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  T.  R.  Chipman,  deceasedv 


90  CHURCHES   OF   ROCnESTER. 

BAPTISMS,  CONFIRMATIONS   AND   CONTRIBUTIONS 
DURING    FIFTY   YEARS. 

Kev.  F.  H.  Gumming,  D.D.,  Dec,  1820,  to  March,  1829. 
Bap.,  255;  conf.,  110;  cont.,  $14,500. 

Rev.  H.  J.Whiteliouse,  D.D.,  Dec,  1829,  to  May,  1844. 
Bap.,  1167;  conf.,  444;  cont.,  817,094. 

Rev.  T.  C.  Pitkin,  July,  1844,  to  July,  1847. 
Bap.,  234;  conf.,  97;  cont.,  $5,140. 

^ev.  H.  W.  Lee,  D.D.,  January,  1848,  to  January,  1855. 
\  Bap.,  588;  conf.,  189;  cont,  S20,431. 

\Rev.  B.  Watson,  May,  1855,  to  August,  1859. 
Bap.,  263;  conf.,  76;   cont.,  $15,448. 

Rev.  B.  Claxton,  D.D.,  Dec,  1859,  to  Oct.,  1865. 
Bap.,  403;  conf.,  127;   cont.,  $23,957. 

Rev.  Henry  Anstice,  May,  1866,  to  May,  1871. 
r.ap.,  418;  conf.,  298;  cont,  $92,209. 

\         Several  brief  interims. 
JBap.,  79  ;  conf.,  5  ;  cont,  $631. 

TotL\l  of  ba^ptisms,  3407. 
Total  of  confirmations  1346, 
Total  contributions,  $189,410. 

szr.yrMji'Rr,  jult  /,  787f. 

Rector — Rev.  Henry  Anstice. 

Wardens — Messis.  William  Brewster  and  Gilman 
H.  Perkins. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  91 

Vestrymen — Messrs.  E.  Darwin  Smith,  E.  E.  Sill, 
James  Brackett,  William  Eastwood,  Charles  H. 
Chapin,  Edward  W.  Williams,  Charles  F.  Smith,  and 
Thomas  Raines. 

Clerk  of  Vestry — Thomas  Raines. 

2'reasurer—EdiW2ivdi  R.  Hammatt. 

>S'.  S.  Superintendent — Rector. 

8.  S.  Scholars— Sd7. 

Communicants — 614. 


SAINT  PAUL'S  CHURCH. 


This  second  Episcopal  parish  in  Rochester  was 
originally  organized  nnder  the  title  of  Saint  Paul's 
church,  the  edifice  bearing  that  name  being  erected  in 
1829.  In  architectural  design,  this  structure  was  far 
in  advance  of  anything  at  that  time  in  Western  New 
York  ;  its  beauty  and  grandeur  drawing  to  it  visitors 
from  all  the  country  around.  Its  spire  was  designed  to 
exceed  in  height  anything  in  this  part  of  the  State  ; 
but  after  successful  raising  and  during  the  absence  of 
workmen  at  dinner,  the  elements  made  sport  of  their 
ambition,  and  they  returned  to  find  that  the  wind  had 
cleaned  it  even  with  the  roof.  The  original  design 
was  abandoned  and  the  present  tower  substituted.  As 
a  key  to  important  features  in  its  subsequent  history, 
it  may  be  remarked  that  a  loan  of  $10,000  from  the 
North  River  Insurance  Company  was  effected  by  the 
vestry,  to  be  used  as  part  of  the  building  fund,  which 
was  secured  by  a  mortgage  on  the  building. 

Rev.  Charles  P.  Mcllvaine  (now  the  venerable  Bishop 
of  Ohio)  was  the  presbyter  presiding  at  the  meetings 
for  the  organization  of  the  parish ;  Rev.  F.  H.  Cum- 
ming  being  rector  of  Saint  Luke's. 

"The  leading  men  at  the  organization  and  for  many 


CHURCHES   OF   KOCHESTER.  93 

years  afterward  (writes  an  old  parishioner),  were 
Messrs.  William  Atkinson  and  Elislia  Johnson,  For 
many  years  Saint  Paul's  was  called  Johnson's  church, 
he  being  the  leading  spirit  in  the  enterprise. ' ' 

The  first  rector  was  Rev.  Sutherland  Douglas,  of 
whom  an  extended  notice  from  another  hand  will  be 
found  at  the  close  of  this  narrative. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Chauncey  Colton,  who 
left  on  account  of  ill  health,  in  1832,  and  is  now  a  res- 
ident of  Maryland. 

Rev.  H.  V.  D.  Johns  was  called  earlj^  in  1832.  Of 
him  the  same  friend  writes  :  "He  visited  the  parish 
in  Lent  of  that  year,  accepted  a  call,  preached  on 
Sunda}^,  baptized  an  adult,  and  left  for  ^Baltimore  for 
his  family,  but  did  not  return."  This  adult  was  for 
fifteen  years  after  a  most  exemplary  and  useful  worker 
in  the  parish,  and  during  some  of  its  darkest  days  the 
faithful  steward  of  its  finances.^ 

Then  came  Rev.  Burton  H.  Hickox  from  Palmyra, 
who  was  in  charge  from  1832  to  1 835  —  being  remarka- 
ble for  prudence,  persistence  and  success  in  relieving 
parishes  from  financial  embarassments,  and  institut- 
ing plans  of  well  doing. 

In  1835  Rev.  Orange  Clark,  D.D.,  was  called  from 
Lockport,  and  continued  in  charge  four  years,  when 
he  removed  to  California  and  died. 

Rev.  Washington  YanZandt  became  rector  in  April, 
1839.  It  was  a  period  of  special  religious  interest  in 
the  city,  and  Mr.  YanZandt  "  was  for  six  months  (one 
of)  the  most  popular  ministers  the  church  in  Rochester 

*  Ansel  Roberts.  Esq. 


94  CIIURCnES   OP^   ROCHESTER. 

liad  ever  had."  At  the  first  visit  of  Bishop  DeLancey 
thirty-one  persons  were  confirmed  and  at  another  seven- 
teen. After  a  pastorate  of  one  year  and  six  months 
he  resigned.  The  history  of  this  period  was  one  of 
disaster  to  the  parish  and  to  the  sacred  interests  parishes 
are  designed  to  further.  Let  a  veil  be  drawn  over  it. 
But  it  would  be  a  crime  against  the  uses  of  history 
not  to  record  here  the  fact  that  during  this  incumbency 
peremptory  inhibition  was  laid  upon  the  amusement 
of  dancing,  in  the  case  of  young  persons  coming  to 
confirmation  or  to  the  holy  communion  in  this  parish. 

After  a  long  vacancy,  when  the  pulpit  was  supplied 
by  professors  from  Geneva,  the  Rev.  William  E. 
Eigenbrodt  (now  professor  in  General  Episcopal  sem- 
inary, JN".  Y.,  and  secretary  of  convention),  was  called 
from  Bainbridge,  W.  N.  Y.,  and  entered  upon  his 
duties  June  12,  1842,  continuing  till  December,  1843, 
when  he  resigned ;  but  not  without  inaugurating  means 
for  rescuing  the  parish  property  from  its  anomalous 
condition,  in  its  transfer  from  the  ownership  of  indi- 
viduals to  that  of  the  bishop  of  the  diocese,  and  this 
with  a  view  to  its  restoration  ultimately  to  the  legal 
guardianship  of  a  vestry  ;  a  result  in  the  end  happily 
accomplished. 

The  rectorship  of  Mr.  Eigenbrodt  was  marked  by 
the  happiest  and  most  satisfactory  relations  with  the 
vestry  and  the  parish  ;  but  it  had  this  special  and 
crowning  glory,  that  it  restored  in  all  minds,  at  a 
most  critical  moment,  that  reverence  for  the  sacred 
office  which  had  received  so  disastrous  a  shock  ;  and 
that  it  re-established  as  the  true  measure  of  admira- 
tion   and    support    towards  a  christian  pastor,   the 


CIIUKCIIES    OF   ROCHESTER.  95' 

standard  of  exemplary  purity  and  fidelity  in  cliarac- 
ter,  and  of  the  solid  qualities  of  the  shepherd,  guide 
and  teacher. 

Under  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  B,  H.  Hickox,  the 
church  edifice  had  been  rescued  from  menaced 
alienation,  and  the  title  to  the  church,  property  had 
passed  to  a  new  corporation,  taking  the  name  of  Grace 
church.  This  new  corporation  effected  a  settlement 
with  the  old  creditor,  the  insurance  company,  by 
purchasing  the  edifice  under  a  foreclosure  of  the 
mortgage.  The  corporation  of  Trinity  church,  New 
York,  contributed  a  liberal  sum  to  enable  Grace 
church  to  compass  this  settlement,  taking  a  mortgage 
on  the  edifice. 

In  the  end  there  was  a  second  foreclosure  ;  and  the 
edifice  was  bought  in  under  it  by  the  association  of 
gentlemen  who  held  the  title  during  the  two  rector- 
ships last  named ;  and  who  had  besides  made  large 
advances  to  carry  on  the  parish. 

It  was  to  eradicate  the  bitter  root  of  original  debt, 
against  which  he  felt  it  hopeless  for  any  pastor  to  con- 
tend, and  of  which  he  was  ignorant  when  he  entered 
upon  the  charge,  that  Mr.  Eigenbrodt  resolved  to 
bring  things  to  a  crisis  by  resigning  the  "charge. 

Bishop  DeLancey  made,  in  October,  1844,  this- 
record  of  the  facts  : 

"February  4  to  11. — I  visited  Rochester  on  this  oc- 
casion with  especial  reference  to  the  aflairs  of  Grace 
church,  worshiping  in  Saint  Paul' s  church  edifice  ; 
which  edifice  had  been  bought  in  under  a  foreclosure, 
by  a  few  members  of  the  congregation,  some  of  whom 
had  been  large  contributors  to  the  church  before,  and 


96  CnUKCIIES  OF  eocitester. 

who  advanced  tlie  requisite  amount  in  the  hope  that 
the  church  might  be  revived  and  themselves  refunded. 
The  rector  had  resigned  on  account  of  the  pecuniary 
embarrassments  of  the  church.  The  vestry  were,  un- 
able to  purchase  the  church,  and  there  was  apprehen- 
sion lest  the  building  should,  l^y  the  force  of  circum- 
stances, be  alienated  from  the  Episcopal  church,  and 
the  congregation  dispersed. 

"I  deemed  it  my  duty,  after  consulting  with  wise 
and  influential  lay  friends  in  Rochester,  to  become  the 
proprietor  of  the  edifice,  in  the  hope  of  thus  ensuring 
to  the  church  in  perpetuity  the  possession  of  the 
building,  in  case  the  effort  to  relieve  it  from  pecuniary 
embarassment  should  succeed,  and  also  to  afford  a  ba- 
sis for  the  experiment  to  relieve  it  to  be  fairly  tried. 

"The  congregation  with  the  vestry  of  Grace  church 
continue  to  worship  in  this  church,  supplied  with  the 
ministrations  of  the  clergy  laboring  in  it  under  my 
direction,  and  awaiting  the  result  of  the  experiment, 
as  well  as  in  aiding  in  the  effort  to  rescue  the  church 
from  its  difficulties. 

"  The  funds  derived  from  j)ew  rents  are  applied  to 
providing  the  services  of  the  clergy,  to  the  payment 
of  the  interest'on  the  debt  and  reduction  of  the  prin- 
cipal, and  to  the  contingent  expenses.  My  own  ser- 
vices are  given  gratuitously,  and  are  designed  to  be 
rendered  in  such  way  and  at  such  times  as  not  to  in- 
terfere with  my  diocesean  duties,  which  are  par- 
amount." 

The  experiment  was  blessed  with  success,  and  in 
the  end  the  title  to  the  edifice  was  placed,  free  of  in- 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  97 

cumbrance,  in  the  corporation  of  Grace  cliiircli,  where 
it  remains. 

The  clergymen  employed  under  this  arrangement 
were,  (1)  Rev.  Stephen  Douglas,  for  three  months  ; 
(2)  Rev.  John  Y.  Vanlngen,  D.D.,  who  was  soon 
joined  by  Rev.  Charles  H.  Piatt,  deacon,  bo|h  being 
appointed  missionaries  for  city  and  county  without 
stipends,  giving  also  gratuitous  services  to  Penfield, 
Brighton,  Pittsford,  &c.  Others  were  added  as  assist- 
ants to  the  working  staff  in  all  parts  of  the  city  and 
suburbs.  Besides  the  rector,  Rev.  Mr.  Piatt,  there 
ministered  to  this  parish.  Rev.  John  N.  Norton,  Rev. 
Jonathan  L.  Eaton,  Rev.  Walter  Ayrault  (now  D.D.), 
Rev.  T.  N.  Benedict,  Rev.  Joshua  Smith,  Rev. 
Sylvanus  Reed,  Rev.  Wentworth  L.  Qhilds,  Rev.  W. 
H.  Barris,  Rev.  Philemon  E.  Coe,  Rev.  Albert  Wood, 
and  Rev.  John  B.  Calhoun, 

The  rescue  of  the  parish  property  from  encum- 
brance, happily  effected  in  1847,  was  in  part  the  effort 
of  the  bishop,  who  secured  about  two  thousand  dol- 
lars for  this  purpose,  and  of  vestry  and  parishioners, 
with  the  noble  zeal  and  activity  of  young  men  who 
gave  here  their  first  services  in  the  ministry  with  a  de- 
votion to  humble  labor  among  the  poor  never  to  be 
forgotten  for  fidelity  and  success. 

The  title  to  the  property  being  now  in  the  vestry 
the  parish,  freed  from  debt,  entered  upon  a  career 
of  quiet,  steady  growth  and  usefulness.  Rev.  Dr. 
Vanlngen  was  chosen  rector  at  a  salary  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars  (1848);  of  which  he  remitted  two  hundred 
dollars  in  consideration  of  the  recent  exhausting 
efforts  of  the  parish. 


98  CHUECHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

Tlie  cliiirch  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  a  Sun- 
day morning,  in  July,  1847.  There  being  an  insur- 
ance of  ten  thousand  dollars  and  no  debt,  the  vestry 
proceeded  courageously  to  rebuild.  Services  were  held 
for  a  time  in  the  old  high  school,  until  Christmas, 
1847,  when  the  restored  basement  was  joyfully  occu- 
pied. The  entire  edifice  being  completed,  was  conse- 
crated as  Grace  church,  December  17,  1848. 

Upon  the  removal  of  Dr.  Vanlngen  to  Saint  Pauls, 
Minnesota,  in  1854,  his  place  was  taken  by  Hev. 
Maunsell  VanRensselaer,D.D.,  who,  after  an  adminis- 
tration of  characteristic  fidelity,  was  called  to  the 
presidency  of  DeVeaux  college,  Niagara  Falls. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  present  rector.  Rev.  Israel 
Foote,  D.D.,  in,May,  1859.  Under  his  laborious,  pru- 
dent and  faithful  administration,  the  parish  has  grown 
to  its  present  condition.  A  parsonage  (original  cost 
ten  thousand  dollars),  and  a  parish  school  building 
(twelve  thousand  dollars),  have  been  added  to  its  pro- 
perty", and  the  church  edifice  enlarged,  improved  and 
beautified,  at  a  cost  of  twenty-seven  thousand  dollars. 
Let  not  the  recolrd  be  omitted  that  (while  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  present  rector,  "None  of  us  do  anything 
to  boast  of,  and  why  it  should  be  paraded  before  the 
world  but  to  shame  us,  I  know  not,"  to  all  of  which 
the  present  writer  subscribes),  not  one  dollar  of  this 
was  raised  by  lairs,  or  "any  means  except  direct 
subscription,  bequest  or  contribution." 

The  communicants  reported  by  Dr.  Eigenbrodt  in 
1843,  were  108,  but  now  they  number  404.  But  no 
eye  but  that  of  the  All- seeing,  and  no  measure  but 
that  of  the  final  judgement  can  give  report  of  the  in- 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  99 

fluence  or  the  actual  result  of  the  life  of  an  individual 
or  of  a  parish.  And  in  view  of  the  actual  state  of 
morals  to-day,  no  demonstration,  one  would  think,  so 
well  becomes  "the  churches,"  as  that  of  humiliation 
in  sack-cloth  and  ashes.  J.  Y.  Y.  I. 

Note. — During  one  of  the  interims  of  rectorship, 
about  the  year  1831,  the  members  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church  worshiped  for  several  months  in  this 
church,  while  their' s  was  undergoing  repair.  An  act 
of  courtesy  gratefully  appreciated,  and  an  illustration 
of  christian  unity,  of  which  this  city  has  often  been 
the  scene. 

Rev.  Sutherland  Douglas,  son  of  the  late  Alanson 
Douglas,  of  Troy,  was  born  in  1804 ;  graduated  at 
Yale  college  and  the  General  Theological  seminary  ; 
was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Griswold  ;  accepted 
charge  of  Saint  John's  church,  D.  C.  ;  became  first 
rector  of  Saint  Paul's,  Rochester,  in  1828,  but  resigned 
in  less  than  a  year  on  account  of  impaired  health. 
He  sailed  to  Havre  in  hopes  of  restoration,  but  after 
severe  illness  died  in  London,  after  a  brief  but  devoted 
ministerial  career.  During  the  few  lucid  hours  of  his 
last  sickness,  he  received  the  sacrament  from  Rev.  Dr. 
Wilson  (subsequently  Metropolitan  of  India),  who 
had  his  remains  deposited  in  his  family  vault  at  Isling- 
ton, thereto  await  the  resurrection  of  the  just.  More 
than  forty  years  have  passed  away  and  yet  the  writer 
of  this  sketch,  young  then,  well  remembers  the  text 
of  one  of  his  discourses,  and  vividly  recalls  his  plain- 
tive voice,  deeply  serious  countenance,  and  earnest 
manner,  in  the  sacred  desk. 


100  CIIURCIIES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

"  The  loveliest  star  of  evening's  train 
Sets  early  in  the  western  main  ; 
The  brightest  star  of  morning's  host, 
Scarce  ris'n  in  brighter  beams  is  lost." 

William  B,  Douglas,  Esq.,  of  this  city,  is  a  brother, 
and  Mrs.  Samuel  Miller,  of  New  Haven,  a  sister  of 
this  young  and  gifted  divine. 


Rector — Rev.  Israel  Foote,  D.D. 

Assistant  Rector — Rev.  C.  N.  Allen. 

Wardens — Messrs.  George  W.  Mumford  and 
Johnson  I.  Robins. 

Vestrymen — Messrs.  George  Ellwanger,  George  E. 
Mumford,  H.  F.  Atkinson,  F.  Goodrich,  R.  S. 
Kenyon,  D.  A.  Watson,  F.  L.  Durand,  and  E.  K. 
Warren. 

S.  S.  Superintendent — The  rector. 

Lihrarian — Bernard  S.  Vanlngen. 

Ko.  of  S.  8.  Scholars— 305. 

JVo.  of  Communicants— ^Q4:. 


TRINITY  CHURCH. 


The  organization  of  a  third  Episcopal  chnrch  and 
parish  in  the  city  of  Rochester,  and  in  that  portion  of" 
the  city  commonly  called  Frankfort,  occupied  the 
thoughts  and  enlisted  tlie  sympathy  of  the  'Rev.  Dr. 
Henry  J.  Whitehouse,  then  rector  of  Saint  Luke's 
church,  and  now  the  distinguished  Bishop  of  Illinois, 
as  early  as  the  year  1836.  The  project  met  with  the 
sympathy  and  cooperation  of  several  prominent  and 
influential  members  of  Dr.  Whitehouse' s  parish,  and 
subscriptions  were  made  for  the  object  to  the  amount 
of  about  one  thousand  dollars.  A  lot  was  purchased 
opposite  Brown's  square,  and,  realizing  that  the  foun- 
dations of  parochial  strength  are  securely  laid  in 
Sunday  schools,  Seth  C.  Jones,  Esq.,  an  earnest  lay- 
man and  parishioner  of  Saint  Luke's  church,  opened 
a  Sunday  school  in  the  district  school  house  that  then 
stood  on  the  square.  Here  the  work  seems  to  have 
rested  until,  in  1844,  Dr.  Whitehouse  received  and  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  rectorship  of  Saint  Thomas's 
church,  New  York.  The  prosecution  of  the  enter- 
prise that  lay  so  near  his  heart  was  a  prominent  sub- 
ject of  his  exhortations  to  the  attached  and  beloved 
people  of  his  flock  as  he  bade  them  farewell,  and 


102  CHURCHES   OF   EOCIIESTEK. 

urged  them  to  enlarge  tlieir  boundaries  and  multiply 
tlieir  activities  for  the  good,  not  of  the  parish  simply, 
but  of  the  church  at  large. 

Dr.  Whitehouse  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
C.  Pitkin,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  w^hose  influence  was 
cheerfully  lent  to  the  realization  of  his  predecessor' s 
wishes.  During  the  month  of  August,  1845,  the  sub- 
scribers to  the  fund  above  mentioned,  together  with 
other  friends  of  the  movement,  and  under  the  official 
sanction  and  direction  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pitkin,  met  in 
the  public  school  house  number  five,  corner  of  Fish 
(now  Centre)  and  Jones  streets,  and  began  public 
services  Sunday  afternoons  and  evenings,  Mr.  Pitkin, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Vanlngen,  then  rector  of  Saint  Paul's 
church,  and  others,  officiating  at  their  convenience. 

On  the  27th  of  October  following  a  meeting  was  held 
at  the  same  place,  and  the  legal  organization  of  a  new 
parish,  to  be  called  "Trinity  church,"  was  eff'ected  by 
the  election  of  Messrs.  Henr)^  E.  Rochester  and  Seth 
C.  Jones  as  wardens,  and  Messrs.  George  R.  Clark, 
Samuel  F.  Witherspoon,  George  Arnold,  David  Hoyt, 
Patrick  G.  Buchan,  William  E.  Lathrop,  Lewis  P. 
Beers,  and  Seth  M.  Maltby  as  vestrymen.  On  the  22d 
of  December  following  the  Rev.  Vandervoort  Bruce, 
of  New  York,  was  called  to  the  rectorship  of  the  new 
parish,  and  having  accepted  the  call  he  preached  his 
first  sermon  to  the  little  flock  January  8,  1840.  The 
following  day,  at  a  meeting  convened  for  the  purpose, 
it  was  resolved  to  sell  the  lot  already  owned  on  Brown 
street,  and  to  purchase  what  was  considered  a  more 
eligible  one,  on  the  corner  of  Fish  and  Frank  streets. 
Seth  C.  Jones,  Henry  E.  Rochester,  and  George  Ar- 


CHURCHES   OF    ROCHESTER.  103 

nold  were  appointed  a  bniliing  committee,  and  they 
at  once  procured  plans  for  a  clnirch  edifice  from  D.  C. 
McCollum,  architect,  and  contracted  with  William 
Bassett  for  building  the  same.  Subscriptions  were 
made  and  the  work  progressed  so  well  that  on  the  14th 
of  June  following  the  corner-stone  of  the  church  was 
laid  in  the  presence  and  with  the  assistance  of  the 
city  clergy,  the  rector  making  the  address. 

On  the  24th  of  December  following,  it  being  Christ- 
mas Eve,  divine  service  was  held  in  the  church  for  the 
first  time,  the  rector  preaching  the  sermon,  and  the 
Rev.  Fortune  C.  Brown,  of  Avon,  and  the  Rev.  W. 
Ayrault,  of  Canandaigua,  assisting  in  the  service. 
Previous  to  this  date  the  services  had  been  held  in 
public  school  house  number  five,  under  great  and 
manifest  disadvantages,  but  so  strong  was  the  faith 
and  so  earnest  the  labors  of  this  handful  of  parish- 
ioners that  a  spiritual  harvest  had  been  made  ready  to 
the  laborer's  hand,  in  a  few  months.  The  holy  eu- 
charist  was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  February  2d 
of  this  year,  when  twenty-two  of  the  faithful  commu- 
nicated. The  sacrament  of  holy  baptism  was  first 
administered  March  8th,  the  candidate  being  Edward, 
the  infant  son  of  S.  F.  Witherspoon,  Esq.  The  holy 
rite  of  confirmation  was  first  administered  August  23d, 
by  Bishop  DeLancey,  to  nineteen  persons.  Meantime 
a  Sunday  school  had  been  organized,  and  was  suc- 
cessfully conducted  under  Henry  E.  Rochester,  Esq., 
as  superintendent,  and  Mrs.  George  Arnold,  assistant 
superintendent. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bruce  resigned  the  rectorship  of  the 
parish  May  12,  1847,  after  a  ministry  of  but  sixteen 


104  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER, 

months,  and  removed  to  New  York  city,  where  he 
still  resides.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Charles 
D.  Cooper,  of  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  who  entered  upon 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  October  1st,  the  same  year. 
Under  his  ministry  the  parish  interests  continued  to 
thrive,  and  on  the  morning  of  February  15,  1848,  the 
debt  having  been  entirely  paid,  the  church  was  con- 
secrated to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God.  Bishop 
DeLancey  was  the  consecrator,  and  there  were  of  the 
reverend  clergy  present  and  assisting,  besides  the  rec- 
tor, the  Revs.  Henry  W.  Lee,D.D.,  then  rector  of  Saint 
Luke's,  Rochester,  and  now  Bishop  of  Iowa,  J.  V. 
Yanlngen,  D.D.,  S.  Benedict,  Mason  Gallagher,  A.  P. 
Stryker,  J.  A.  Bolles,  A.  Lockwood,  and  Samuel 
Chipman.  Two  days  later  the  rector  was  formally 
instituted  into  his  cure,  and  forty-five  laymen  commu- 
nicated. Mr.  Cooper  labored  faithfully  among  his 
people,  but  his  ministry  was  even  shorter  than  his 
predecessor's,  for  on  the  10th  of  December,  1849,  he 
accepted  a  call  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  still  resides, 
in  charge  of  the  church  and  parish  of  the  Holy 
Apostles. 

Mr,  Cooper  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Robert  J. 
Parvin,  of  Towanda,  Pa.,  who  assumed  the  rectorship 
February  10th.  His  first  sermon  is  still  most  distinctly 
remembered  by  his  hearers,  not  only  on  account  of 
the  interest  which  usually  attaches  to  such  occasions, 
but  also  on  account  of  the  singular  pertinency  of  his 
text,  "I  ask  therefore  for  what  intent  ye  have  sent 
forme."  Mr.  Parvin  had  a  successful,  though  short 
ministry  in  this  parish,  and  resigned  August  12,  1852, 
to  take  charge  of  a  parish  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.     Sub- 


CHURCHES   OF    ROCHESTER.  105 

sequently  he  became  an  agent  of  the  *'  Society  for  the 
Increase  of  the  Ministry,"  and  was  among  those  who 
perished  on  board  of  the  ill  fated  steamer  United  States, 
which  was  burned  on  the  Ohio,  December,  1868. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  from  the  outset  the  parish 
had  to  contend  against  an  evil  that  still  obtains  in  the 
church  everywhere,  a  constant  change  in  the  pastor- 
ate. But  there  were  stout  hearts  and  generous  deeds 
among  the  laity  which  were  an  abundant  earnest  of 
ultimate  success.  The  records  of  those  days  tell  the 
same  unvarying  tale  of  self-sacrifice  for  Christ,  and 
when  the  standard  of  pecuniary  values  is  compared 
with  that  of  the  present,  the  donations  of  those  early- 
members  of  the  parish  toward  its  constant  and  increas,- 
ing  enterprises,  seem  truly  munificent. 

There  is  an  almost  irresistible  temptation  to  particu-^ 
larize  somewhat  on  this  head,  and  we  are  restrained 
only  by  the  knowledge  that  those  earnest  churchmen 
—  many  of  them  still  with  us  —  are  characterized  by 
too  genuine  a  modesty  to  tolerate  any  mention  of 
their  generosity  other  than  in  general  items. 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Parvin  the  chancel  win- 
dow was  completed,  and  a  Sunday  school  room  fitted 
up  for  week  day  services  and  lectures. 

Mr.  Parvin  was  succeeded,  October  1,  1852,  by  the 
Rev.  Addison  B.  Atkins,  of  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  who  re- 
mained until  June  12,  1854,  when  he  removed  to  a 
wider  field  of  usefulness.  At  his  last  celebration  of 
the  Eucharist,  one  hundred  and  five  communicated,  a 
sufficient  evidence  of  growth  in  things  spiritual.  Mr. 
Atkins  is  now  rector  of  Saint  John's  church,  George- 
town, D.  C. 


106  CHURCHES   OF   EOCHESTER, 

On  the  5tli  of  September  following,  a  call  was  ex- 
tended to  the  Rev.  George  N.   Cheney,  of  Penn  Yan, 
N.  Y.,  who  entered  upon  his  work  October  1.     His 
ministry,  which  was  the  longest  one  ever  exercised  by 
any  of  the  rectors  of  this  parish,  lasted  until  May  1, 
1863,  when  failing  health  and  sundry  private  consid- 
erations admonished  him  to  retire  from  the  care  of  ac- 
tive parochial  life.     Entering  upon  his  work  with  an 
eye   single  to  his  Master's   glory,   and  with  a  zeal 
which,  though  sometimes   "cast  down,"   could  never 
be  "destroyed,"  he  left  a  most  enduring  record  in 
the  hearts  of  his  people.     During  the  great  rebellion  he 
secured  temporary  leave  of  absence  from  the  parish, 
that    he    might  carry    the  word   and  sacraments    of 
the   church  to  the    soldiers  who  were    fighting   for 
the  nation's  life,  and  in  the  capacity  of  chaplain  to 
the  33d  regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  he  served 
the  Master  and  his  fellows  most  faithfully.      Retiring 
to  the  country  to  rest  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  he  died 
June  12,  1863.      The  parish  he   served  so  well  has 
erected  a  mural  tablet  above  the  altar  and   on  the 
the  sanctuary  wall,  witli  the  appropriate  inscription, 
"A  Beloved  Brother  and  Faithful  Minister  in  the 
Lord." 

The  parish  had  now  realized  such  a  measure  of 
material  prosperity  that  it  became  necessary  to  mature 
plans  for  the  enlargement  of  the  church  edifice. 
Hitherto  the  body  of  the  church  consisted  of  a  nave 
and  transepts,  the  whole  outline  describing  a  cross. 
Plans  were  submitted  and  adopted  at  a  vestry  meet- 
ing, held  June  16,  1863,  for  enlarging  the  church  by 
extending  the  side  walls  ten  feet  on  either  side,  thus 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  107 

adding  two  rows  of  pews  and  two  aisles  to  the  already 
existing  nave.  These  plans  were  adopted,  the  church 
was  enlarged  and  thoroughly  refurnished,  and  an  ac- 
crued debt  of  a  considerable  amount  was  paid  off, 
thus  placing  the  parish  on  a  good  financial  footing.- 
On  the  9th  of  next  November,  a  call  was  extended  to 
the  Rev,  John  W.  Clark,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and 
on  the  6th  of  December,  he  took  charge  of  the  parish 
as  rector.  He  remained  only  until  November  13, 
1864,  when  he  resigned,  and  accepted  a  call  to  Saint 
Thomas's  church,  Dover,  N.  H. 

On  the  24th  of  the  following  April,  a  call  was  ex- 
tended to  the  Rev.  John  V.  Yanlngen,  D.D.,  formerly 
of  Saint  Paul's  church,  and  sometimes  doing  mission 
work  in  Minnesota,  who  accepted,  and  at  once  took 
charge  of  the  parish.  He  remained  until  July  1, 1868, 
when  he  resigned,  and  became  agent  of  the  "  Society 
for  the  Increase  of  the  Ministry."  A  vacancy  in  the 
rectorship  of  eight  months  now  occurred,  which,  to- 
gether with  other  preexisting  causes  not  necessary  to 
be  mentioned,  operated  disastrously  on  the  interests 
of  the  parish,  and  confident  predictions  were  made 
that  its  race  was  run.  Families  which  had  ever  filled 
its  pews  and  swelled  its  income,  contributing  to  its 
material  and  spiritual  strength,  had  become  scattered, 
and  only  a  faithful  few  remained  to  constitute  the 
semblance  of  a  parish.  But  the  faith  of  those  few 
never  wavered,  and  in  response  to  their  call,  the  Rev. 
Charles  H.  W.  Stocking,  rector  of  Christ's  church, 
Ansonia,  Conn.^  took  charge  of  the  parish  March  1, 
1869.  Seldom  is  a  call  accepted  under  more  discour- 
aging circumstances.     The  exterior  and  original  por- 


108  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

tion  of  the  church  had  fallen  somewhat  into  decay^ 
while  the  interior  had  become  still  more  unseemly. 
There  was  no  choir,  scarcely  any  parishoners,  and 
little  more  than  income  enough  to  pay  the  sexton.  A 
volunteer  chorus  choir  was  formed  and  rehearsed  by 
the  rector,  the  Sunday  school  was  re-organized,  with 
the  assistance  of  its  constant  benefactor,  S.  F.  With- 
erspoon,  Esq.,  and  general  measures  of  improvement 
inaugurated.  A  fund  of  about  three  thousand  dollars 
was  raised  for  improvements  within  and  without  the 
church  building,  and  on  the  11th  of  July,  it  was  re- 
opened by  the  Right  Rev.  A.  Cleaveland  Coxe,  D.D., 
bishop  of  the  diocese,  who  preached  and  administered 
the  holy  rite  of  confirmation  to  twenty-two  persons. 

This  brings  the  history  of  the  parish  down  to  the 
present  time.  During  the  two  years  rectorship  of  the 
present  incumbent,  the  parish  has  been  making  rapid 
strides  forward  in  the  part  of  material  and  religious 
progress,  and  its  future  seems  reasonably  secure.  Its 
membership,  income  and  influence  are  largely  beyond 
what  it  has  ever  before  enjoyed  ;  a  result  attributable 
more  to  the  zeal  and  cooperation  of  its  members,  than 
to  the  labors  or  deserts  of  its  rector. 

During  the  present  incumbency  a  parish  Guild  has 
been  organized,  the  members  of  which  are  solemnly 
pledged : 

1.  To  aid  in  the  reverent  performance  of  divine 
worship,  by  preparing  and  keeping  in  order  the  vest- 
ments of  the  clergy  and  all  other  appointments  of  the 
choir,  the  vestry-room  and  the  chancel. 

2.  To  be  present  before,  during,  and  after  all  pub- 
lic services,  when  not  providentially  and  absolutely 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  109 

prevented,  and  to  so  order  the  above  appointments  as 
to  secure  a  more  seemly  and  reverent  respect  for  the 
house  of  God. 

3.  To  ^inculcate  by  precept  and  example  the  duty 
of  reverence  for  the  holy  place. 

4.  To  seek  out  and  report  to  the  rector  any  exist- 
ing cases  of  sickness,  suffering  or  destitution  within 
their  respective  districts,  and,  under  his  direction,  to 
aid  such  as  are  worthy. 

6.  To  ascertain  and  report  to  the  rector  the  names 
of  all  strangers  moving  within  the  parish,  and  who 
attend  its  services  and  unite  with  them  in  facilitating 
an  early  and  cordial  acquaintance  with  those  "who 
are  of  the  same  household  of  faith." 

This  institution  has  accomplished  much  good  to  the 
parish  and  the  city. 

A  parish  school  was  also  opened  last  year  under 
the  immediate  supervision  of  the  rector,  and  with  Miss 
Frances  M.  Buclian,  an  earnest  and  most  efficient 
teacher,  as  principal. 

The  Sunda}^  school  is  an  element  of  great  strength. 
It  numbers  eighteen  teachers,  and  two  hundred  and 
fifty  scholars. 

Of  the  original  incorporators  but  four  remain  with- 
in the  parish,  viz  :  George  R.  Clark,  S.  F.  Withers- 
poon,  George  Arnold  and  Dr.  B.  F.  Gilkeson. 

The  present  incumbent,  Rev.  Charles  H.  W.  Stock- 
ing, v/as  born  in  Norwich,  Conn.  ;  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  removed  to  Providence,  and  thence  to  Bos- 
ton, where  he  prepared  for  college.  He  entered  Trin- 
ity college,  Hartford,  in  1856,  graduated  in  1860,  en- 
tered the  General  Theological  seminary,  New  York 


110  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

city,  where  he  also  graduated.  Ordained  to  the  dea- 
conate  by  Bishop  Horatio  Potter,  in  New  York,  June 
28,  1863,  and  to  the  priesthood  by  the  game  bishop, 
at  Brion  Cliflt*,  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  December 
17,  1863,  of  which  parish  he  had  the  charge  for  the 
first  year  of  his  ministry.  In  October,  1864,  he  be- 
came rector  of  the  church  of  the  Nativity,  Bridge- 
port, Conn.,  and  warden  of  the  orphanage  connected 
with  the  same.  In  October,  1865,  he  accepted  the 
rectorship  of  Christ's  church,  Ansonia,  Conn.  In 
connection  with  the  parent  parish,  he  also  founded 
mission  parish  at  Nichols'  Farms,  Trumball,  Conn., 
which,  in  four  years,  became  self-supporting,  and 
was  placed  under  the  charge  of  a  resident  pastor. 

In  March,  1869,  he  removed  to  Rochester,  where  he 
now  holds  the  rectorship  of  Trinity  parish. 

STATISTICS   OF    THE   PARISH, 

Since  its  formation,  808  have  been  baptized,  341  con- 
firmed, 247  couples  united  in  holy  matrimon}^,  and 
378  persons  buried. 

The  parish  at  present  numbers  more  than  700  souls, 
of  whom  about  250  are  communicants. 

Of  those  who  found  in  Trinity  church  a  spiritual 
mother,  six  have  gone  forth  as  priests  of  Christ's 
church  to  minister  the  word  and  sacraments  to  others. 

Of  the  eight  priests  who  have  served  at  its  altar, 
two  now  rest  from  their  labors,  the  Revs.  G.  N. 
Cheney  and  Robert  J.  Parvin. 

The  Rev.  Vandervoort  Bruce  is  living  in  New  York 
city,  and  is  without  any  parochial  care. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  Ill 

Rev.  Charles  D.  Cooper  is  rector  of  the  church  of 
the  Holy  Apostles,  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  Addison  B.  Atkins  is  rector  of  Saint  John's 
church,  Georgetown,  D.  C. 

Rev.  John  W.  Clark  is  rector  of  Saint  Paul's 
church,  East  Saginaw,  Mich. 

Rev.  J.  Y.  Yanlngen,  D.D.,  is  chaplain  of  the 
House  of  Refuge,  Rochester. 


Rector — Rev.  Charles  H.  W.  Stocking. 

Wardens — Messrs.  George  Arnold  and  Chauncey 
W.  Clarke. 

Vestrymen — Messrs.  William  P.  Holmes,  James 
Brown,  R.  D.  Kellogg,  Yirgil  C.  Goodwin,  Dwight 
Knapp,  James  W.  Kelly,  Sylvester  P.  Robins,  E. 
Henry  Scrantom,  and  P.  G.  Ranney,  clerk. 

S.  8.  Superintendent — Rector, 

Assistant  Superintendent — S.  P.  Witherspoon. 

No.  of  Scholars— 2m. 

No.  of  Communicants — 250, 


CHRIST'S  CHURCH. 


Recognizing  the  necessity  of  another  Episcopal 
church  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  several  prominent 
members  of  Saint  Lnke's  church,  together  with  a  few 
from  Grace  church,  obtaining  the  consent  of  the  rec- 
tors of  the  city  parishes,  met  and  organized,  with  the 
following  officers :  Silas  O.  Smith  and  David  Hoyt, 
wardens  (both  deceased) ;  Andrew  J.  Brackett,  D.  B. 
Beach,  D.  M.  Dewey,  John  Fairbanks,  J,  M.  Winston, 
Charles  R.  Babbitt,  Delos  Wentworth,  and  Edward 
M.  Smith,  vestrymen. 

The  first  services  of  the  newly  organized  parish 
were  held  in  Palmer's  Hall,  on  Sunday,  April  29, 
1855,  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Watson,  of  Saint  Luke's, 
officiating.  Upon  nomination  of  Bishop  DeLancey, 
the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Neely,  of  Utica,  now  Bishop  of 
Maine,  was  elected  rector  of  the  parish. 

Mr.  Neely  continued  the  rectorship  until  the  autumn 
of  1862,  when,  to  the  great  regret  of  those  among 
whom  he  had  labored  so  earnestly  for  seven  years,  he 
resigned  the  parish,  and  accepted  the  chaplaincy  of 
Hobart  college,  Geneva. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Anthony  Schuyler, 
D.D.,  of  Saint  John's  church,  Osw^ego,  and  during 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  113 

Ms  efficient  ministry  the  congregation  steadily  in- 
creased. His  health  requiring  a  change  of  climate,  he 
accepted  a  call  to  Grace  church,  Orange,  New  Jersey, 
in  1867. 

The  third  rector  of  the  church  is  Walton  W.  Bat- 
tershall,  of  Ravenswood,  Long  Island,  the  present  in- 
cumbent. 

The  favorable  location  of  the  church,  and  the  energy 
and  enterprise  which,  through  all  its  history,  have 
characterized  the  parish,  have,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
given  it  an  almost  unprecedented  growth,  and  made  it 
an  efficient  instrument  of  christian  work.  During  the 
pastorate  of  its  first  rector  the  church  was  enlarged  to 
double  its  previous  capacity,  and  a  chapel  for  the 
Sunday  school  was  built,  adjoining  the  church.  Un- 
der the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Schuyler  a  tower 
was  added  to  the  church  edifice.  Within  the  last  two 
years  extensive  improvements  have  been  made  in  the 
interior  of  the  church,  and  a  rectory  has  been  built  on 
the  lot  adjoining  the  church  lawn. 

In  June,  1870,  by  the  advice  and  support  of  several 
laymen,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Battershall  called  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Flack,  formerly  of  the  cathedral  of  Our  Mer- 
ciful Saviour,  at  Fairbault,  Minn.,  to  take  the  charge 
of  the  parish  school  and  the  mission  work  of  the  parish 
in  the  twelfth  ward."^ 

*  In  June,  1871,  the  mission,  with  the  cordial  consent  and  favor  of  the 
vestry  of  Christ's  church,  became  an  independent  parish,  under  the  name  of 
Saint  Clement's  church  and  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Flack.  A 
valuable  lot  has  been  purchased,  and  measures  are  being  taken  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  church  edifice  during  the  coming  year. 


114  CHURCHES   OF   KOCHESTER. 

RECTORS. 

Rev.  Henry  Adams  Neely,  D.D.,  was  born  at  Fay- 
etteville,  N.  Y.;  was  educated  at  Jubilee  college,  Illi- 
nois, and  Hobart  college,  Geneva,  where  lie  received 
Ms  academic  titles  of  A.M.  and  D.D. ;  was  ordained 
priest  in  Calvary  cliurcli,  Utica,  June  18, 1854,  of  wliicli 
churcli  lie  was  assistant  rector  for  nearly  three  years, 
when  he  accepted  a  call  to  become  first  rector  of 
Christ's  church,  Rochester,  in  August,  1855,  of  which 
parish  he  retained  the  charge  for  seven  years,  when  he 
was  appointed  fu-st  chaplain  of  his  alma  mater  at 
Geneva.  From  that  position  he  became  assistant  min- 
ister of  Trinity  church,  New  York,  with  the  charge  of 
Trinity  chapel,  and  finally  was  elected  second  Bishop 
of  Maine,  and  was  consecrated  June  25,  1867.  Untir- 
ing industry  with  ardent  zeal  and  devotion  to  his  call- 
ing have  carried  Dr.  ]S"eely  onward  step  by  step  to  the 
highest  position  in  the  church  of  which  he  is  a  worthy 
diocesan.     His  residence  is  Portland,  Maine. 

Rev.  Anthony  Schuyler,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of  Seneca, 
Ontario  county,  N.  Y. ;  a  graduate  of  Hobart  college, 
Geneva ;  and  practiced  law  for  ten  years.  His  theo- 
logical studies  were  pursued  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  Walker,  of  Ithaca.  His  first  rectorship  was  at 
Penn  Yan ;  then  at  Oswego  for  ten  years ;  when  he 
came  to  Rochester  as  second  rector  of  Christ's  church, 
being  installed  October  1,  1862,  and  resigning  July  1, 
1868,  to  the  regret  of  his  parishioners,  and  assumed  a 
pastorate  at  Orange,  N.  J.,  which  position  he  now 
holds  with  the  same  ability  and  acceptance  that  char- 
acterized him  here  and  elsewhere. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  IIST 

Rev.  Walton  W.  Battershall  was  born  at  Troy,  N.  Y. ; 
graduated  at  Yale  college  in  1864,  and  at  the  General 
Theological  seminary.  New  York,  in  1867 ;  was  for  a 
year  and  a  half  assistant  minister  of  Zion  church,  in 
that  city,  an  I  in  1868  accepted  the  rectorship  of  Saint 
Thomas's  church,  Ravenswood,  L.  I.,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Rochester,  and  was  installed  rector  of 
Christ's  church  January  1, 1869,  which  important  post 
he  now  holds  with  the  cordial  unanimity  of  the  parish, 
which,  during  his  administration,  has  increased  by 
one-half  its  present  number  of  communicants. 


szTMMci'Rr,  jzrzr  f,  /87f. 

Hector — Rev.  Walton  W.  Battershall. 

Wardens — Delos  Wentworth,  Edward  M.  Smith. 

Vestrymen~Q.  E.  Upton,  D.  M.  Dewey,  A.  Bur- 
bank,  J.  H.  Nellis,  W.  H.  Shepard,  W.  J.  Ashley, 
J.  Moreau  Smith,  Curtis  Clark,  Charles  W.  Hardy, 
clerk. 

S.  S.  Superintendent — William  J.  Ashley. 

No.  of  Communicants — 410. 

S.  8.  Teachers— 26. 

J3.  S.  Scholars— 200. 

Report  of  mission  not  included  in  above. 


GOOD  SHEPHERD. 


During  tlie  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Claxton,  rec- 
tor of  Saint  Luke's  (in  1863-4),  a  mission  of  that 
parish  was  established,  and  a  chapel  built  on  Grape 
street.  On  the  3d  of  March,  1869,  this  was  organized 
as  a  separate  parish,  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Anstice,  suc- 
cessor of  Dr.  Claxton,  under  the  title  of  the  church  of 
the  Good  Shepherd.  The  first  wardens  were  Messrs. 
John  Greenwood  and  George  Cummings.  The  first 
vestrymen  were  Messrs.  Thomas  Thompson,  Thomas 
Tamblingson,  AYilliam  Attridge,  Jr.,  Samuel  Attridge, 
C.  H.  Finch,  Robert  G.  Newman,  AVilliam  "Webb, 
and  Walter  Williamson. 

KECTOES. 

Rev.  Jacob  Miller,  resigned  September  1,  1869. 

Rev.  J.  Newton  Spear,  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health.     Resides  at  Altoona,  Pa. 

Rev.  James  S.  Barnes,  came  from  and  returned  to 
Brooklyn. 

Rev.  Frederick  Walter  Raikes,  a  native  of  England 
and  a  student  in  Germany.  After  having  a  pastoral 
•charge  at  Tonawanda,  N.  Y.,  and  being  an  assistant 


CHURCHES   OF   EOCHESTER.  117 

minister  of  Grace  cliurcli,  Lockport,  lie  was  ordained  to 
the  priesthood  by  Bishop  Coxe,  and  installed  rector 
of  the  church  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 


SUMMci'RT,  JUZr  f,  /87/. 

Rector — Rev.  Frederick  Walter  Raikes. 

Wardens — John  W.  Greenwood,  George  Cum- 
mings. 

Vestrymen — Messrs.  Robert  G.  Newman,  Thomas 
Thompson,  Thomas  Tamblingson,  William  Attridge, 
Jr.,  William  Webb,  Thomas  Baxendale,  George  Thorn,, 
and  Samuel  Attridge. 

>S'.  S.  Suyerintendent — Rector,  assisted  by  John  W^ 
Greenwood. 

No.  of  8.  S.  Scholars— 1^6. 

No.  of  Communicants — 30. 


METHODIST. 


FIKST,  ASBURY,  NORTH  STREET, 

ALEXANDER  STREET,  CORNHILL,  FRANK 

STREET,  GERMAN,  ZION. 


Metliodism  lias  been  quaintly  though  not  inaptly 
styled  "religion  on  horse-back,"  being  the  pioneer 
corps  of  the  sacramental  army.  When  Wesley  and 
his  associates  forsook  the  social  attractions  and  schol- 
astic halls  of  London  and  Oxford,  to  ''preach  Christ 
and  Him  crucified"  to  the  miners  of  Cornwall,  New- 
castle, and  like  semi-barbaric  regions  of  England  and 
Wales,  they  exemplified  what  w^as  in  their  minds  to 
be  the  characteristic  feature  of  the  society  they  estab- 
lished. As  a  rare  exception,  Methodists  were  in  Roch- 
ester preceded  by  Presb3^terians  and  Episcopalians. 
This  arose  from  the  fact  that  the  pioneer  immigrants 
were  from  New  England  and  Maryland,  and  brought 
with  them  their  religious  sentiments  and  their  eccle- 
siastical forms  of  worship. 

The  first  Methodist  meeting  was  held  in  June,  1817, 
in  the  dwelling  house  of  Fabritius  Reynolds,  which, 
stood  near  to  the  intersection  of  Fitzhugh  street  with 
Buffalo  street,  the  service  being  conducted  by  Elder 
Elisha  House. 

These  informal  services  were  held  in  private  dwell- 


122  CHURCHES  of  Rochester. 

ings  and  scliool  houses  up  to  September  20, 1820,  when 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Rochester 
was  organized,  with  the  following  trustees :  Messrs. 
Frederick  Clark,  Abelard  Reynolds,  Elam  Smith,  Dan. 
Rowe,  and  Nathaniel  Draper.  The  edifice  first  erect- 
ed stood  on  the  corner  of  South  St.  Paul  street,  the 
lot  being  presented  by  Messrs.  Elisha  Johnson  and 
Euos  Stone.  Tlie  building  committee  were  Messrs.  N. 
Draper,  B.  Hall,  and  R.  Beach.  The  size  and  locality 
of  this  structure  became  so  inadequate  and  inconven- 
ient that  it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  building  with  more 
room,  to  accommodate  the  increasing  attendance,  and 
nearer  the  center  of  population.  As  the  result  of  such 
united  purpose,  but  with  very  lai'ge  pecuniary  sacri- 
fice, tlie  massive  and  spacious  stone  edifice  was  erect- 
ed on  the  corner  of  Fitzhugh  and  Buffalo  streets. 
This  sanctuary  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Je- 
hovah in  the  fall  of  1831,  but  on  the  5th  of  January, 
1835,  became  a  mass  of  burned  and  unsightly  ruins. 
There  being  no  insurance,  the  loss  was  peculiarly 
heavy  and  depressing.  But  the  public  sympathy  was 
deeply  awakened,  which  expressed  itself  in  the  influx 
of  money  and  other  donations  sufficient  to  rebuild  at 
once,  and  another  of  great  attractiveness  took  its  place, 
and  stood  till  the  land  was  sold,  and  another  struct- 
ure was  built  a  little  to  the  north  ;  the  dedication  ser- 
mon being  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Reid,  then  president 
of  Genesee  college,  Lima. 

A  division  of  the  society  being  deemed  advisable, 
another  organization  was  formed  September  26,  1836, 
and  a  church  edifice  of  stone  erected  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Clinton  streets,  which  was  dedicated  in 


cnriiciiES  OF  Rochester.  123 

February,  1843  ;  the  offiiciating  clergymen  being  Rev. 
Drs.  John  Dempster  and  Samuel  Luckey.  This  socie- 
ty was  afterwards  merged  in  the  Asbury  M.  E.  church, 
which  was  organized  under  its  new  and  present  name 
February  1,  I860.  Great  improvements  have  recently 
been  made  in  the  audience  room  of  the  building,  ren- 
dering it  very  commodious  and  attractive. 

In  March,  1852,  Aristarchus  Champion,  Esq.,  gave 
to  the  Methodist  denomination  $10,000,  to  be  used  in 
building  four  church  edifices  in  the  suburbs  of  the 
city.  Of  this  generous  sum  $2,000  were  donated  to 
aid  in  erecting  the  North  street  church,  near  the  cor- 
ner of  North  and  Hudson  streets,  which  was  dedicated 
November  2,  1853  ;  the  sermon  being  preached  by 
Rev.  Schuyler  Seager,  D.D.  This  ecclesiastical  or- 
ganization had  been  in  existence  since  March,  1819, 
under  the  name  of  the  North  street  M.  E.  church  of 
Rochester. 

Another  appropriation  was  made  to  aid  in  erecting 
what  is  the  Alexander  street  church,  on  the  corner  of 
Alexander  and  Cobb  streets,  which  was  dedicated  in 
the  autumn  of  1853,  by  Bishop  E.  S.  Janes,  D.D. 

The  Cornhill  church  was  organized  June  8,  1852, 
the  above  fund  aiding  essentially  toward  erecting  the 
edifice  that  stands  on  Edinburgh  street,  near  Plymouth 
avenue. 

The  Sixth  M.  E.  church  was  organized  December  17, 
1852,  under  the  impulse  and  practical  encouragement 
derived  from  Mr.  Champion's  munificent  gift.  Its 
place  of  worship,  on  the  corner  of  Smith  and  Frank 
streets,  was  dedicated  in  1853,  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Peck,  D.D. 

N.  B. — It  should  be  understood  that  while  the  noble 


124  CIIUKCnES  OF  eochestee. 

benefaction  of  Mr.  Champion  called  some  of  these 
churches  into  being,  and  was  of  admitted  importance 
in  the  way  of  encouragement,  the  amtmnt  in  each  case 
was  but  a  small  proportion  of  what  was  required  to 
complete  the  structure. 

NAMES   OF   METHODIST   MINISTERS   W^IIO   HAVE   BEEN 
STATIONED   IN   EOCHESTEE. 

Meverencl  Messrs. 

Orren  Miller,  C^^rus  Story, 

Reuben  Aylesworth,  Elisha  House, 

Mica  Seager,  Isaac  Puffer, 

John  Dempster,  Zechariah  Paddock, 

Gideon  Lanning,  Gleason  Fillmore, 

Robert  Burch,  Elijah  Hebard, 

John  Copeland,  Allen  Steele, 

Daniel  P.  Kidder,  D.D.,  Wilbur  Hoag, 

Jonas  Dodge,  Thomas  Carlton, 

Moses  Crow,  Samuel  Luckey,  D.D., 

Schuyler  Seager,  D.D.,  John  Dennis, 

John  G.  Gulick,  A.  C.  George, 

Jonathan  Watts,  D.  D.  Buck,  D.D., 

Israel  H.  Kellogg,  John  Parker, 
William  H.  Goodwin,  D.D.,  LL.D., 


Manly  Tooker, 

J.  M.  Fuller, 

W.  W.  Mandeville, 

John  Raines, 

Thomas  Tousey, 

Thomas  Stacey, 

D.AV.C.Huntington,D.D., 

,  James  E.  Latimer,  D.D., 

F.  G.  Hibbard,  D.D., 

Elijah  Wood, 

Henry  VanBenschoten, 

E.  J.  Herman^!, 

D.  Leisenring, 

A.  H.  Shurtleff, 

CHUECHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  125 

M.  AY  heeler,  Nathan  Fellows, 

John  N.  Brown,  Alpha  Wight, 

S.  W.  Alden,  George  W.  Chandler, 

R.  Hogoboom,  William  Manning, 

Thomas  B.  Hudson,  S.  L.  Congdon, 

S.  VanBenschoten,  S.  B.  Rooney, 

George  W.  Paddock,  W.  B.  Holt, 

Albert  N.  Fisher,  Isaac  Gibbard, 

J.  Ashworth,  George  YanAlstyne. 

While  all  have  been  men  of  devotion  to  their  sacred 
calling,  and  had  much  success  in  "  winning  souls  to 
Christ,"  several  of  them  have  occupied,  and  still  hold, 
a  large  place  in  public  esteem,  for  scholarship  and  offi- 
cial station  in  church  and  state.     As  illustrations  : 

Rev.  Daniel  P.  Kidder,  D.D.,  a  graduate  of  Wesley- 
an  university,  Conn.,  went  as  a  missionary  to  Brazil, 
S.  A.,  where  he  resided  three  years  ;  travelled  exten- 
sivel}^  from  San  P.iulo  to  the  equator  ;  distributed  bi- 
bles and  various  christian  books,  and  preached  the  first 
sermon  on  the  waters  of  the  Amazon.  Returning  to 
the  United  States  he  published  two  volumes,  entitled 
"Sketches  of  residence  in  Brazil,''  and,  conjointly 
with  Rev.  J.  C.  Fletcher,  "Brazil  and  the  Brazilians," 
both  of  them  well  received  by  the  literary  and  relig- 
ious public,  doing  much  to  awaken  an  interest  which 
has  embodied  itselt  in  the  present  successful  missions 
to  those  distant  and  needy  regions.  As  a  preacher, 
scholar,  and  author.  Dr.  Kidder  occupies  a  high  posi- 
tion in  public  regard. 

Rev.  Freeborn  G.  Hibbard,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of  New 
Rochelle,  N.  Y.  ;  commenced  public  life  at  the  early 
age  of  eighteen,  and  has  repeatedly  held  the  highest 


126  ,     CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

positions  in  the  gift  of  Lis  clinrcli  associates.  As 
editorof  the  Northern  Christian  Advocate,  and  author 
of  "  Baptism,  its  Import  and  Efficacy,"  "  Geography 
and  History  of  Palestine,"  and  the  "  Psalms  Chrono- 
logically Arranged,"  Dr.  Hibbard  has  displayed,  as 
in  his  pulpit  discourses,  a  well  disciplined  mind,  pro- 
found scholarship,  and  accurate  acquaintance  with 
Bible  truths.  As  a  preacher,  he  is  always  listened  to 
with  interest  and  profit. 

Rev.  Zachariah  Paddock,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  N.  Y.  ;  when  licensed,  was  placed  on 
the  Ontario  district ;  was  ordained  by  the  late  Bishop 
Roberts,  at  Vienna  (now  Phelps) ;  has  been  in  charge 
of  most  of  the  stations  in  central  and  western  New 
York,  among  them  Buffalo,  Rochester, Ithaca,  Auburn, 
Utica,  &c.  ;  held  the  office  of  presiding  elder  eighteen 
years,  and  is  now  at  Binghamton.  Though  not  a 
college  graduate,  he  was  studious  and  a  master  of 
many  literary  departments,  all  which  attainments  he 
has  used  to  good  effect  with  pen  and  voice.  Benevo- 
lent and  genial,  he  has  many  ardent  friends  in  central 
and  western  New  York,  where  for  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury he  has  been  abundant  in  labors  to  build  up  Zion, 
and  spread  scriptural  Jioliness  through  the  land. 

Rev.  Gleason  Fillmore  was  born  in  Bennington,  Vt. 
In  1818  he  is  found  preaching  at  Buft'alo  and  Black 
Rock,  multitudes  thronging  to  hear  him.  The  most 
remarkable  years  of  his  ministry  were  spent  in  Roch- 
ester, in  1830-1,  when  a  revival  occurred,  which  added 
nine  hundred  to  the  church  in  this  region.  His  manly 
figure,  powerful  voice,  and  earnest  utterances,  made 
him  a  favorite  preacher  at  camp  meetings,  executions, 


CHURCHES   OF   KOCHESTER.  127 

and  other  public  gatherings.     He  now   resides  near 
Buffalo. 

Rev.  John  Dempster,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Florida, 
Fulton  county,  N.  Y.,  his  father  being  a  native  of 
Scotland,  and  for  a  time  a  follower  of  Wesley,  though 
at  the  time  of  his  death  of  and  in  the  Presbyterian 
church.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  converted  at 
a  camp  meeting,  and  thenceforth  was  devoted  to  Christ 
with  unabated  and  intense  zeal.  A  hard  student  in 
early  life,  he  became  a  "master  in  Israel."  Beings 
admitted  to  the  general  conference  in  1816,  his  circuit 
was  a  vast  wilderness,  with  fatigues  and  perils 
innumerable.  The  places  he  served  were  Watertown, 
Scipio,  Homer,  Auburn,  Rochester,  &c.,  where  his 
resistless  logic  and  sweeping  eloquence  are  well  re- 
membered by  the  pioneer  dwellers.  Failing  in  health 
he  spent  six  years  in  Buenos  Ayres,  S.  A.,  and  in 
1842  became  pastor  of  a  church  in  New  York.  A 
surgical  operation  terminated  his  life  in  November, 
18H- ;   "  and  his  end  was  peace." 

Rev.  Samuel  Luckey,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Renselaer- 
ville,  N,  Y.,  his  first  circuit  being  in  Ottawa,  Lower 
Canada,  then  at  St.  Francis,  in  the  same  province, 
subsequently  in  Easton,  N.  Y.,  and  New  England, 
then  in  and  around  A  Ibany,  Troy,  Schenectady,  &c. 
For  four  years  he  was  principal  of  Genesee  seminary 
at  Lima,  and  then  editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate, 
at  New  York.  Returning  to  itineracy,  we  find  him  in 
the  metropolis,  then  on  the  Genesee  conference,  where 
he  remained  till  his  death  in  Rochester  city,  October 
11,  1869,  being  at  the  time  of  his  decease  chaplain  of 
the  city  penitentiary.     "His  fame  is  in  all  the  churches, 


128  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

standing  unsullied  by  any  exceptional  event  of  a 
moral,  doctrinal,  or  ecclesiastical  aberration,  during 
the  rare  ministerial  period  of  fifty- eiglit  years."  He 
was  a  regent  of  the  State  university. 

AVilliam  Henry  Goodwin,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  is  a  native 
of  Trumansburgh,  N.  Y. ;  was  educated  at  Lima,  and 
received  scholastic  degrees  at  Hobart  college,  Geneva, 
and  Dickenson  college,  Penn.  He  has  been  an  active 
pastor  for  twenty-seven  years,  and  presiding  elder  for 
seven  years.  During  the  winter  of  1855-6  Dr.  Goodwin 
represented  his  district  in  the  senate  of  New  York 
State,  returning  to  his  home  in  Geneva  each  Sunday, 
and  officiating  on  the  Sabbath.  During  the  second 
winter  of  the  term  he  admitted  one  hundred  to  church 
membership  on  profession  of  their  faith,  travelling 
weekly  six  hundred  miles,  and  not  being  once  absent 
from  his  seat  at  the  capital.  In  the  year  1865  he  was 
chosen  regent  of  the  State,  and  took  a  leading  part  in 
the  late  Methodist  convocation  at  Syracuse.  His  pub- 
lished writings  liave  been  of  rather  a  fugative  charac- 
ter, the  most  important  being  a  speech  on  the  "  natur- 
alization laws,"  an  oration  at  Lima  in  1852,  and  on 
Decoration  Day. 


A  vast  German  (Methodist)  population,  unused  to 
any  but  their  own  language,  are  scattered  all  through 
the  land.  Though  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Bishops  of  the  Methodist  church,  they  have  a  confer- 
ence of  their  own,  and  are  served  by  ministers  of  the 
German  tongue.  That  in  this  city  is  entitled  First 
German  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  is  located 
on  the  corner  of  North  and  Tyler  streets.     It  was  or- 


CHUECiiES  OF  rochp:stek.  129 

ganized  in  1848,  and  has  had  as  its  ministers  :  Revs. 
John  Sawter,  John  J.  Crau,  Jacob  Kindler,  Charles 
Afflerba3h,  A.  C.  Ilortel,  F.  G.  Gratz  (twice),  C.  Blunn, 
J.  G.  Lntz,  J.  Kolb,.  and  Paul  Quatlander. 

Zion  church  (Methodist),  now  located  on  the  corner 
of  Spring  and  Favor  streets,  was  organized  in  1835, 
and  has  had  a  checquered  career,  though  now  pros- 
perous. The  pastors  have  been  :  Revs.  Isaac  Steward, 
the  early  founder  ;  Henrj  Johnson,  deceased  ;  John 
P.  Thomj)Son,  Dempsy  Kennedy,  William  S.  Bishop, 
bishop,   now  in  Newark,   N.  J.  ;   John  A.  Williams, 

Thomas,  James  H.  Smith,  William  Sandford, 

William  Abbott,  and  Thomas  James,  the  present  in- 
cumbent. 

From  this  church  there  entered  the  ministry  Ger- 
man Logan,  now  a  bishop,  and  resides  at  Syracuse. 

Another  church  was  organized  in  18G7,  under  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  William  Edwards.  The  trus- 
tees being  Messrs.  Austin  Steward,  Peter  Stockton, 
George  Washington,  David  Winer,  and  Bt-njamin 
Jointer.  This  has  been  disbanded  and  the  house  of 
worship  sold. 

Prominent  among  the  people  of  color  was  Austin 
Steward,  whose  autobiography,  entitled  "Twenty- 
Two  Years  a  Slave,  and  Forty  a  Freeman,"  published 
by  William  Ailing,  in  1867,  is  a  volume  of  much  inter- 
est and  well  entitled  to  the  recommendatory  note 
signed  by  leading  citizens,  and  a  letter  from  ex- Gov- 
ernor Clark,  of  Canandaigua,  and  Edwin  Scrantom, 
Esq.,  of  this  city.  Mr.  Steward  was  a  man  of  much 
intellectual  ability,  great  energy  of  character,  and  un- 
daunted heroism  in  what  he  deemed  the  path  of  duty. 


130  CHUKCHES   OF   EOCHESTER. 

Whoever  questioned  his  judgement,  few,  if  any, 
doubted  his  honesty  of  aim.  In  mind,  heart,  and  life,. 
Mr.  Steward  was  no  common  man. 

Mr.  John  W.  Bishop  has  a  pleasant  home  on 
Adams  street,  where  the  writer  spent  a  recent  hour 
gathering  the  material  for  this  brief  but  important 
chapter. 

SUMMARY,  JUZrt,  787f. 

First— Rqy.  W.  Loyd. 

&.  8.  Superintendent — James  Vick. 

Ashury~RQY.  F.  G.  Hibbard,  D.D. 
8.  8.  Superintendent — A.  Manderville. 

Cornhill—'Rev.  R.  0.  Wilson. 

8.  8.  Super intende fit — N.  L.  Button, 

Alexander  Street — Rev.  J.  D.  Requa. 
8.  8.  Superintendent — A.  P.  Ross. 

North  Street— 'Rev.  J.  N.  Brown. 
8.  8.  Su2:)erintendent — G.  P.  Davis. 

First  German — Rev.  Paul  Quatlander. 
8.  8.  Superintendent — J.  U.  Flad. 

Zion  {Colored) — Rev.  Thomas  James. 
8.  8.  Superintendent— John  Weir. 

Aggregate  of  Communicants — 1,500. 


BAPTIST. 


FIRST  CHURCH. 


Previous  to  the  year  1816,  a  few  Baptists  residing  in 
the  neighboring  town  of  Brighton  met  in  j^rivate 
houses  for  religious  worsliip,  under  the  leadership  of 
Elders  Drake  and  Lamb.  Out  of  this  company  sprang 
an  association  which  was  formally  organized  in  June, 
1817,  the  place  of  gathering  being  a  barn  belonging  to 
Deacon  Graves,  about  three  and  a  half  miles  from  the 
present  city.  The  members  thus  joined  in  covenant 
were  Deacon  Amos  and  Mrs,  Anne  Graves,  Mr.  Ira 
and  Mrs.  Sperry,  Mr.  Johnson  and  Mrs.  Sperry,  Mr. 
John  and  Mrs.  Reynolds,  Deacon  Tenny,  and  Mrs. 
Urana  M.  Kennedy.  The  ministers  assisting  at  this 
inauguration  were  Elders  Lamb,  Bramin,  Brown,  and 
Tinney,  with  Mr.  Immer  Reynolds  as  clerk.  Such 
was  the  infancy  of  an  ecclesiastical  organization  which 
now  catalogues  its  hundreds  of  members,  and  has 
founded  an  University  and  a  Theological  seminary 
which  reflect  high  honor  upon  the  founders,  are  a 
credit  to  the  city,  and  a  blessing  to  the  world. 

Destitution  of  any  place  of  worship  seriously  im- 
peded early  advancement,  as  it  prevented  many  from 
joining  the  body  who  were  one  with  them  in  doctrine, 
education,  and  early  usage.     The  infant  church  at 


134  CHURCHES   OF   EOCHESTEE. 

length  engaged  tlie  services  of  Eev.  E,  M.  Spencer,  a 
teacher  in  Middlebury  academy,  "the  eloqence  of 
wliose  address  awakened  sanguine  hopes  that  he 
would  be  extensively  useful  in  the  then  rising  village." 
Inability  of  support  compelled  him  to  resign  in  less 
than  a  year  after  settlement.  He  was  succeeded,  in 
1823,  by  Kev.  Eleazer  Savage,  during  whose  able  and 
faithful  ministry  of  three  years  the  communicants  in- 
creased from  thirty-five  to  eighty-five  in  number. 
After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Savage,  the  prayers  and 
labors  of  the  laity  were  rewarded  by  seeing  constant 
additions,  so  that  when  Rev.  0.  C.  Corastock,  M.D., 
came  he  found  a  people  ready  to  cooperate  in  his  zealous 
efibrts  for  their  spirituality,  prosperity,  and  growth. 
After  some  delaj''  and  much  pecuniary  sacrifice,  pur- 
chase was  made  of  the  edifice  on  Carroll  (now  State) 
street  which  the  Presbyterians  had  left  for  their  new 
home  in  rear  of  the  court  house.  It  was  here  that  in 
1831  the  Lord  so  signally  blest  His  truth  that  during 
twelve  months  one  hundred  and  fifty  were  added  by 
baptism  and  fifty-three  by  letter.  Among  the  many 
whom  Dr.  Comstock  had  the  privilege  of  welcoming 
to  the  Lord' s  table  was  a  gifted  son,  who  abandoned 
a  promising  career  at  the  bar,  devoted  himself  to  the- 
ology, went  to  Burmali  as  a  missionary,  where  he  and 
his  sainted  wife  lie  buried  on  Pagan  soil  —  a  noble 
sacrifice  upon  the  altar  of  Christ  and  souls.  Upon 
the  retirement  of  Dr.  Comstock,  through  ill  health, 
Rev.  Pharcellus  Church,  D.D.,  took  his  place,  during 
wliose  administration  (in  1839)  the  edifice  on  North 
Fitzhugh  street  was  built,  which,  though  plain  in  out- 
ward appearance,  holds  an  oftimes  thronged  assembly 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  135 

of  worshipers.  This  is  now  giving  jjlace  to  another 
on  the  same  site,  to  cost  $125,000.  The  lecture  room 
is  now  completing,  and  will  be  ready  for  occupancy 
before  summer  closes.  The  deacons,  at  the  time  of 
dedication,  were  Messrs.  John  Watts,  Oren  Sage,  and 
John  Jones  ;  the  trustees  were  Messrs.  E.  F.  Smith, 
John  Jones,  John  Watts,  Oren  Sage,  and  Charles 
Smith,  with  Mr.  H.  B.  Sherman  as  clerk.  Messrs. 
A.  G.  Smith,  H.  L.  Achilles,  Myron  Strong,  Eiwin 
Pancost,  George  Davison,  Charles  Hubbell,  and  Ellery 
S.  Treat  have  held  important  ofRces.  Succeeding  Dr. 
Church  were  Rev.  Justin  A.  Smith  (1849—1853),  Kev. 
Jacob  R.  Scott  (1855—1858),  Rev.  Richard  M.  Scott 
(1859),  and  the  present  incumbent, 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  Eleazer  Savage,  a  native  of  Middletown,  Conn. , 
and  graduate  of  Hamilton  Literary  and  Theological 
seminary,  became  the  first  settled  pastor  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  in  Rochester  in  the  year  1823,  and  resigned 
after  a  short  time  to  become  pastor  at  Medina,  Os- 
wego, Albion,  Holley,  York,  and  Bath.  He  now  re- 
sides at  Fairport,  spending  the  last  days  of  a  long  and 
useful  career  on  earth,  his  ministry  having  ever  been 
earnest,  faithful,  and  replete  with  blessed  results. 

Rev.  Oliver  C.  Comstock,  M.D.,  was  a  native  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  son  of  the  late  Hon.  Adam  Com- 
stock, of  Saratoga,  a  jurist  of  eminent  ability  and 
large  repute.  His  education  was  limited  to  the  com- 
mon school  and  home.  The  University  of  New  York 
having  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  M.D.,  he 


136  CHUKCIIES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

practiced  medicine  for  eight  years  at  Tnimansburgh  ; 
was  appointed  lirst  judge  of  Seneca  county,  then 
State  legislator,  and  Congressman  for  three  terms,  de- 
clining a  fourth  nomination  that  he  might  enter  the 
ministry.  He  was  ordained  at  Washington,  D.  C.  ; 
ministered  at  Ulysses  and  Ithaca ;  became  pastor  of 
the  First  Baptist  church  in  this  city  in  1827,  where  he 
remained  till  May,  1835,  when  he  resigned ;  was  elect- 
ed chaplain  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 
then  removed  to  Marshall,  Mich.,  where  he  held  sev- 
eral positions  of  public  trust  and  honor.  The  closing 
days  of  his  long,  eventful,  and  useful  life  were  spent 
under  the  roof  of  his  son,  M.  C.  Comstock,  M.D.,  go- 
ing to  his  heavenly  rest  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
nine.  An  obituary  notice,  taken  from  a  Marshall 
journal,  commences  thus :  "A  truly  great  and  good 
man  has  fallen."  It  was  remarked  by  one  who  knew 
him  well  that  "Dr.  Comstock  never  had  an  enemy." 
"The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." 

Rev.  Pharcellus  Church,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Seneca, 
near  Geneva,  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.,  and  commenced 
his  ministry  in  Vermont,  passing  thence  to  Providencey 
R.  I.,  being  then  transferred  to  New  Orleans,  from 
whence  he  came  to  Rochester  in  September,  1835,  and 
resigned  after  an  able  and  successful  pastorate  of  the 
First  Baptist  church  for  thirteen  years.  During  this 
period  nearly  one  thousand  persons  were  added  to  the 
church  by  baptism  and  letter.  In  1848  Dr.  Cliurch 
removed  to  Boston  and  took  charge  of  the  Bowdoin 
Baptist  church,  which  ill  health  compelled  him  to  re- 
sign, and  from  1855  to  ''65  he  edited  the  Chronicle,  of 
New  York.     Dr.  Church  has  been  a  voluminous  and 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  137 

popular  author.  Among  his  published  works  are 
"Philosophy  of  Benevolence,"  "Religious  Dissen- 
sions," "Antioch,"  "Pentecost,"  with  a  multitude  of 
pamphlets,  etc.  While  here  he  interested  himself 
much  and  practically  in  organizing  the  University, 
though  leaving  before  he  was  privileged  to  see  the  re- 
sults of  his  arduous  and  self-sacrificing  labors  in  that 
direction. 

Rev.  Justin  A.  Smith,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of  Ticon- 
deroga,  N.  Y.,  and  graduate  of  Union  college,  Sche- 
nectady. His  pastorate  of  the  First  Baptist  church 
began  in  the  autumn  of  1849,  and  continued  four  years, 
when  he  removed  to  Chicago,  111.,  and  became  editor 
of  the  Christian  Times,  now  styled  the  Standard,  the 
denominational  organ  for  the  north-west,  which  he  has 
conducted  these  eighteen  years  with  marked  ability 
and  success.  Associated  with  his  editorial  labors  has 
been  the  charge  of  a  city  church,  making  his  life  one 
of  labor  and  responsibility,  but  of  extensive  influence 
and  much  usefulness. 

Rev.  Jacob  R.  Scott,  a  native  of  Massachusetts ;. 
graduated  at  Brown  university  and  Newton  Theologi- 
cal seminary;  was  settled  at  Petersburgh,  Ya.,  from 
whence  he  came  to  Rochester  in  1855,  and  remained 
three  years,  when  he  removed  to  Yonkers,  N.  Y., 
where  he  died. 

Rev.  Richard  M.  Nott  was  born  in  Nashua,  N.  H.  ; 
graduated  at  Colby  university,  Maine  ;  was  ordained 
pastor  of  First  Baptist  church,  Rochester,  October  12,. 
1859  ;  resigned  October,  1865  ;  settled  in  Aurora,  111., 
in  1869,  where  he  now  resides. 

Rev.  Henry  E.  Robins,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Hartford, 


138  CHUKCIIES   OF   KOCIIESTEK. 

Conn. ;  graduated  at  Newton  Theological  seminary ; 
ministered  to  a  church  at  Newport,  R.  I. ;  came  to  this 
city,  and  was  installed  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  in  1867. 

MINISTERS   AND   MISSIONARIES   FROM   THIS   CHURCH. 

Rev.  Zenas  Freeman,  deceased. 
Rev.  Grover  S.  Comstock,  missionary  to  Burmah, 
deceased. 

Rev.  Joshua  Ambrose,  Michigan. 

Rev.  Niles  Kinne,  Wisconsin. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Spoor,  New  York  city. 

Rev.  Stephen  W.  Tower,  New  Jersey. 

Rev.  Augustus  H.  Strong,  D.D.,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Rev.  Robert  J.  McArthur,  New  York. 

Rev.  Ezra  Zeburn,  Rochester. 

Rev.  William  L.  Lisle,  Massachusetts. 


Pastor — Rev.  Henry  E.  Robins,  D.D. 

Deacons — Messrs.  E.  F.  Smith,  H.  N.  Langworthy, 
Alvah  Strong,  William  N.  Sage,  L.  R.  Satterlee,  Al- 
fred G.  Mudge,  S.  A.  Ellis,  J.  O.  Pettengill,  and  Aus- 
tin H.  Cole. 

Clerk — Henry  W.  Dean. 

Assistant  Clerk — Henry  S.  Dean. 

S.  S.  Superintendent — S.  A.  Ellis,  with  assistants 
A.  R.  Pritchard  and  E.  R.  Andrews. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer — A.  S.  Lane. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  139 

Librarians — Henrj  S.  Dean  and  W.  Lincoln  Sage. 
Scliolars — 475. 
Communicants — 712. 


OUT-STATIOXS. 

In  connection  with  the  First  Baptist  cTiurcli  is  tlie 
Memorial  Baptist  Mission  chapel,  located  on  Lake 
avenue.  This  was  commenced  as  a  mission  chapel  in 
1865,  and  became  a  distinct  and  separate  organization 
in  March,  1871,  with  one  hundred  and  two  members. 
The  Sabbath  school  contains  four  hundred  scholars, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  D.  A.  Woodbury. 
The  deacons  are  Messrs.  Edwin  Waite,  D.  A.  Wood- 
bury, and  S.  Grlass. 

Also,  St.  Paul  street  Mission,  established  in  1868, 
having  a  Sabbath  school  with  three  hundred  scholars 
and  three  teachers. 

Also,  stations  at  Hanford's  Landing,  hereafter  to  be 
conducted  by  the  Lake  avenue  church ;  and  one  on 
the  Lyle  road. 


SECOND    CHURCH. 


At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1834,  it  became  the 
settled  conviction  of  many  members  of  tlie  First  Bap- 
tist church,  that  a  new  organization  was  necessary  to 
meet  the  wants  of  the  rapidly  enlarging  territory  and 
ever  increasing  population.  Accordingly  on  the  26th 
of  February,  1834,  fifty-six  (56)  persons  were  dis- 
missed, to  form  a  new  interest  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river.  Of  the  founders  there  are  now  living  and  in 
fellowship,  David  R.  and  Sarah  M.  Barton,  Emeline 
Sheik,  and  Lydia  A.  Evans. 

The  Third  Presbyterian  church  edifice,  located  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Clinton  streets,  being  then  in, 
market,  was  purchased,  and  the  organization  perfect- 
ed on  the  12th  of  May,  1834,  under  the  title  of  the 
Second  Baptist  church  of  Rochester.  The  occasion 
was  deepened  in  interest  b}^  the  fact  that  on  the  day 
of  organization  Grover  S.  Comstock  (son  of  the  late 
Rev.  O.  Comstock,  D.D.)  was  ordained  a  missionary 
to  Burmah,  whither  he  and  his  devoted  wife  went, 
never  to  return  to  their  native  country  ;  and  Zenas 
Freeman  was  set  apart  to  tlie  work  of  an  evangelist. 

On  the  night  of  December  10,  1859,  this  house  of 
worship  was  consumed  by  fire,  but  another  erected  on 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  141 

North  street,  near  Main,  during  the  year  1861,  at  an 
expense  of  $40,000,  and  far  superior  for  size,  commo- 
diousness,  and  commanding  attractions.  This  church 
has  been  ably  ministered  to  b}^  the  following 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  Elon  Galusha,  of  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  whose 
very  acceptable  services  covered  three  years,  when  he 
resigned  to  become  financial  officer  of  Brockport  col- 
lege.    He  died  at  Brockport,  January  4,  1856. 

Rev.  Elisha  Tucker  was  installed  January  1,  1837, 
and  under  his  faithful  ministry  a  revival  occurred 
which  added  fifty  persons  to  the  communion.  He  re- 
signed in  1841,  removed  to  New  York  city,  and  died 
in  1853. 

Rev.  Y.  R.  Hotchkiss  became  pastor  April  26,  1842, 
and  before  the  close  of  the  year  a  revival  resulted  in 
the  conversion  of  one  hundred  and  forty-three  per- 
sons (eighty-three  of  whom  were  from  the  Sunday 
school).  In  1845  he  resigned,  and  is  now  pastor  of 
Washington  street  church,  Buffalo. 

Rev.  Charles  Thompson  came  in  1846  and  left  in  less 
than  a  year,  to  become  pastor  of  the  Tabernacle 
church,  which  had  a  brief  existence  on  St.  Paul  street. 
He  is  now  pastor  in  Fredonia. 

Rev.  Henry  Davis  remained  but  a  year  and  went  to 
another  field,  leaving  behind  "the  blessings  of  the 
poor  and  sorrowing  for  his  kind  attentions,  and  the 
gratitude  of  the  church  and  community  for  the  ur- 
banity of  his  manners,  and  devotion  to  his  calling." 

Rev.  W.  G.   Howard,  D.D.,  commenced  his  labors 


142  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

in  the  autumn  of  1851,  and  was  much  blest  in  leading 
many  to  Christ.  After  a  pastorate  of  six  years  he 
moved  to  Chicago,  and  then  to  New  Orleans,  where  he 
died  in  1863. 

Rev.  George  Dana  Boardman,  D.D.,  is  a  native  of 
Tavany  Burma.  His  parents,  the  late  Rev.  George 
Dana  Boardman  and  Sarah  Hall  (subsequently  Mrs. 
Judson),  occupy  a  prominent  place  on  the  page  of 
modern  foreign  missions.  Graduating  at  Brown  uni- 
versity, R.  I.,  and  Newton  Theological  seminary, 
Mass.,  he  passed  a  brief  period  at  Barnwell  Court 
House,  S.  C,  when  he  assumed  pastoral  charge  of 
this  church  October,  1856,  occupying  the  same  for 
eight  years,  when  he  left  to  preside  over  the  First 
Baptist  church  of  Philadelphia.  In  the  departure  of 
Dr.  Boardman,  Rochester  lost  a  preacher,  lecturer, 
and  citizen  of  prominent  ability  and  repute.  Long 
will  he  be  remembered  for  peculiar  fascination  as  an 
orator,  and  varied  acquirements  as  a  public  teacher. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Gilmore  was  installed  October  1,  1865, 
but  resigned  after  three  years  to  take  the  chair  of  the 
Theological  seminary  in  the  city  university. 

Rev.  T.  Edwin  Brown,  of  Brooklyn,  commenced 
his  labors  November  1,  1869,  which  he  meets  with  an 
ability  and  acceptance  not  at  all  behind  his  able  pred- 
ecessors. 

If  ever  a  church  and  parish  had  cause  for  gratitude 
to  God  for  well  qualified  religious  guides,  this  has  in 
the  persons  of  the  nine  who  have  stood,  trumpet  in 
hand,  upon  the  walls  of  this  part  of  the  christian 
zion.     The  fifty-six  who  constituted  the  original  mem- 


CHURCHES   OF   KOCHESTEK.  143 

bersliip  have  arisen  to  five  hundred,  deducting  deaths 
and  removals. 


SUMMARY,  Jirzr  f,  f87f. 

Pastor — Rev.  L.  Edwin  Brown. 

Deacons — Messrs.  D.  R.  Barton,  Thomas  Johnson, 
A.  Moseley,  M.  G.  Seely,  and  William  Richardson. 

8.  S.  Superintendent — Mr.  George  W.  Rawson, 
Mrs.  Adolphus  Morse. 

JS'o.  of  Teacliers — 51. 

No.  of  Scholars— mo. 

Irustees — Messrs.  John  M.  French,  George  Brown,, 
C.  B.  Woodworth,  E.  D.  Tracy,  D.  R.  Barton,  and 
Charles  H.  Williams. 

No.  of  Communicants — 570. 


GERMAN    CHURCH. 


In  1848-9  several  German  Baptists  came  from  New 
York  and  other  places  to  this  city,  when  they  com- 
menced holding  meetings  by  themselves  in  private 
dwellings  and  in  school  house  number  ten,  on  Fitzhugh 
street.  Their  services  were  conducted  first  by  Mr. 
G.  Englehard,  a  colporteur  of  the  American  Tract 
society,  and  afterwards  by  Rev.  C.  Boos,  of  Warrens- 
ville,  Penn.,  who  labored  here  nine  months,  and  Rev. 
J.  Eschman,  of  New  York,  who  spent  a  few  weeks, 
and  by  others  at  different  intervals,  and  for  less 
periods  of  time. 

In  October,  1850,  Mr.  Henry  Henrich  came  to  the 
city  from  Buffalo,  and  because  of  his  efficiency  and 
success  in  collecting  and  cementing  these  scattered 
elements,  may  be  styled  the  founder  of  the  present 
organization,  the  German  Baptist  church.  On  the 
S9th  of  June,  1851,  the  body  was  regularly  organ- 
ized, and  recognized  by  the  related  judicatories. 
Rev.  Mr.  Henrich  being  ordained  as  first  pastor. 
Among  the  constituent  members  were  Messrs.  John 
Doppler,  Jacob  Bopser,  Conrad  Leppler,  and  Joseph 
Richard.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev,  Mr.  Henrich, 
many  persons  were  added  to  the  church  by  baptism 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  145 

and  letter,  a  large  portion  of  wliom  migrated  from 
time  to  time  to  the  west,  several  being  excluded 
from  fellowship  through  unfaithfulness  to  their  cove- 
nant obligations.  In  October,  1858,  Rev.  Mr.  Hen- 
rich  removed  to  Anthony,  Lycoming  county,  Pa. 
Rev.  Prof  A.  Rauschenbusch,  of  the  Rochester  The- 
ological seminary,  supplying  the  pulpit  for  about  six 
months,  when  Rev.  Gerhard  Koopman  was  pastor  for 
a  brief  time,  who  was  succeeded,  in  1863,  by  Rev. 
Henry  Schneider,  and  he,  in  1865,  by  Rev.  Henry 
Tschirch,  the  present  occupant. 

When  the  church  was  first  organized,  services  were 
held  in  a  hall  on  Ann  street,  near  State.  After  a  few 
years  purchase  was  made  of  school  house  number  ten, 
on  Andrews  street,  which  is  now  taking  down  and  an 
edifice  of  brick  erecting,  to  cost  about  $8,000. 

This  church  is  ecclesiastically  connected  with  the 
Monroe  Baptist  Association.  The  German  students 
at  the  Theological  seminary  (generally  about  twelve 
in  number),  worship  here,  and  render  valuable  aid  in 
social  meetings  and  in  Sabbath  schools. 


svMM^nr,  jzrzr  a  ^87 1. 

Pastor — Rev.  Earnest  Tschirch. 

Deacons — Messrs.  Jacob  Widmer,  Joseph  Richard, 
and  George  Guenther. 

>S^.  8.  Superintendent — Alexander  Trzeciak. 

No.  of  Scholars— 100. 

Communicants — 86. 


CONGREGATIONAL. 


FIKST  CHURCH. 


This  organization  was  perfected  about  the  year  1842, 
and  that  not  so  much  on  ecclesiastical  grounds  and 
from  preference  to  the  New  England  form  of  faith  or 
worship,  as  from  a  warm  sympathy  of  its  founders  in 
the  anti-slavery  movements  of  the  times  and  with  the 
acceptance  by  them  of  the  doctrinal  views  upon  sancti- 
fication,  taught  at  Oberlin,  Ohio.  As  the  doctrine  of 
christian  perfection,  and  the  ardent  espousal  of  the 
anti-slavery  cause,  were  the  immediate  occasion  of 
constituting  the  church,  so  they  were  its  characteris- 
tic features  from  commencement  to  dissolution. 

The  first  minister  was  Rev.  A.  S.  Shaffer,  from  l^ew 
Jersey,  who  remained  between  two  and  three  years, 
when  Rev.  Henry  E,  Peck  (son  of  Everard  Peck, 
Esq.)  became  the  ordained  pastor,  and  so  continued 
for  nearly  eight  years. 

The  church  edifice  was  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
city  known  as  Frankfort,  and  the  society  was  in  a 
large  measure  composed  of  the  inhabitants  in  that 
vicinity,  with  a  few  other  earnest  men  and  women, 
who  sympathized  with  Oberlin  views  upon  slavery 
and  questions  of  theology. 

In  progress  of  time,  when  abolitionism  came  to  be 


150  CnUECHES   OF  KOCIIESTEE. 

tolerated  in  tlie  cliurclies,  and  Oberlinism  had  ceased 
to  be  treated  as  a  dangerous  heresy,  and  as  a  Metho- 
dist church  had  just  been  organized  in  the  same 
suburbs  of  the  city,  there  seemed  no  longer  a  special 
call  for  this  organization  to  raise  the  cry  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peck  having  been  called  to  a 
professorship  in  Oberlin  college,  the  church  and  soci- 
ety about  the  year  1851  was  dissolved,  and  the  mem- 
bers were  quietly  mixed  with  the  other  evangelical 
churches  of  the  city. 

The  membership  was  about  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty. Leonard  Hitchcock  and  Joseph  Higgins  were  the 
two  deacons,  and  were  both  of  the  "'  salt  of  the  earth," 
and  have  gone  to  their  reward  above.  The  church 
served  its  intended  purpose  —  its  career,  though  brief, 
being  greatly  useful  and  honored. 


FREE  CHURCH. 


Was  organized  in  November,  1836,  with  five  mem- 
bers, which  soon  increased  to  seventy.  The  first  pas- 
tor was  Rev.  John  T.  Avery,  and  trustees  were  Messrs. 
John  Gorton  and  Willis  Sterns.  A  place  of  worship 
was  erected  on  the  corner  of  St.  Paul  and  Division 
streets,  between  Main  street  and  Saint  Paul  church. 


PLYMOUTH  CHURCH. 


September  8,  1853,  saw  laid  the  corner-stone  of 
Plymouth  church,  on  the  corner  of  Troup  and  Sophia 
streets,  now  called  Plymouth  avenue.  The  occasion 
called  together  a  large  concourse  of  citizens ;  Presby- 
terian, Methodist,  and  Baptist  clergymen  taking  part 
in  the  interesting  exercises.  Pev.  O.  E.  Daggett,  D.D., 
then  of  Canandaigua,  delivered  an  appropriate  ad- 
dress. The  funds  needful  for  the  construction  of  the 
massive  building  were  largely  contributed  by  Aris- 
tarchus  Champion,  Esq.,  who,  after  its  completion, 
conveyed  the  property  by  deed  to  the  trustees,  Aug- 
ust 10,  1855.  An  act  of  State  incorporation  was  ob- 
tained, under  date  of  April  15,  1854,  and  the  follow- 
ing persons  were  elected  trustees  :  Messrs.  Aristarchus 
Champion,  Freeman  Clarke,  Edmund  Lyon,  Charles 
J.  Hill,  William  W.  Ely,  M.D.,  A.  C.  Bristol,  M.D., 
E.  H.  Hollister,  C.  A.  Burr,  and  Erastus  Darrow. 

An  ecclesiastical  organization  was  perfected  August 
21,  1855,  with  seventy  members,  of  whom  Ezra  B. 
Booth,  Eliza  A.  Bloss,  Robert  E.  Brewster,  Dr.  A.  G. 
and  Mrs.  Mary  G.  Bristol,  Aristarchus  Champion, 
Erastus  Darrow,  Olivia  H.  Dewey,  Dr.  L.  C.  and  Mrs. 
Sarah  DoUey,  Dr.  W.  W.  and  Mrs.  Sarah  and  Ange- 


162  CHURCHES   OF   liOCIIESTER. 

line  Ely,  Joseph  Farley,  Dennis  Hartwell,  Elizabeth 
Lee,  Alice  B.  Peck,  Galnsha  and  Stella  B.  Phillipps, 
Samuel  C.  and  Susan  F.  Porter,  Smith  R.  and  Lucy 
A.  Sutherland,  William  H,  and  Sarah  B.  Thomas, 
Frederick,  Matilda  and  Frank  VanDoorn,  Porter 
W.  and  Emeline  C.  Taylor  are  still  in  communion. 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  the  cliurch  edifice 
was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God,  the  sermon  be- 
ing preached  by  E,ev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  of  Woburn, 
Mass.,  and  devotional  exercises  conducted  by  Rev. 
Drs.  Daggett,  of  Canandaigua,  Leonard  Bacon,  of 
New  Haven,  Joseph  P.  Thompson,  of  New  York, 
with  Rev.  Messrs.  J.  H.  Dill,  E.  W.  Gilman,  and  T. 
Eddy.  At  a  church  meeting  held  December  10,  1855, 
Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards  was  unanimously  elected 
pastor,  and  was  installed  April  18,  1856 ;  the  sermon 
being  preached  by  Rev.  Prof.  Parks,  of  Andover 
(Mass.)  Theological  seminary.  Ill  health  compelled  a 
resignation  November  2, 1862.  Mr.  Edwards  returned 
to  his  native  State,  leaving  behind  universal  esteem  as 
a  gentleman  of  intellectual  culture,  urbanity  of  man- 
ner, united  with  diligence,  ability,  and  faithfulness  as 
preacher  and  pastor.  The  pulpit  was  variously  sup- 
plied till  the  unanimous  call  of  the  present  incumbent. 
Rev.  Dwight  K.  Bartlett,  who  was  installed  May  9, 1869. 

PASTOES. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  son  of  the  late  Justin  Ed- 
wards, D.D.,  president  of  Andover  Theological  sem- 
inary, was  born  at  Andover  ;  graduated  at  Yale  col- 
lege and  at  Andover  seminary ;   was  first  settled  at 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  153 

Woburn,  Mass.,  from  which  place  he  came  to  Roch- 
ester, and  was  installed  first  pastor  of  Plymouth 
church  in  April,  1856,  where  he  remained  nearly  seven 
years.  He  has  now  charge  of  the  ancient  church  of 
Dedham,  Mass.,  founded  in  the  year  1636.  During 
his  pastorate  in  Rochester  two  hundred  and  forty 
persons  united  with  the  church. 

Rev.  Dwight  K.  Bartlett  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie  ; 
graduated  at  Union  college  and  Princeton  and  Union 
Theological  seminaries  ;  preached  at  Armenia,  N.  Y., 
and  Stamford,  Conn.;  coming  to  Rochester  in  1859,. 
where  he  labors  among  an  attached  people. 

In  connection  with  the  pastors  of  Plymouth  churchy 
mention  may  be  made  of  another  person,  who,  though 
never  holding  an  official  position,  was  so  often  in  the 
pulpit,  and  so  thoroughly  identified  with  this  body 
and  with  religion,  science,  and  education  throughout 
the  city,  as  to  merit  special  and  emphatic  record. 

Rev.  Charles  Dewey,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  born  at 
Shefiield,  Mass. ;  graduated  at  Williams  college,  of 
which  institution  he  was  an  ofiicer  for  seventeen  years. 
During  the  next  ten  years  he  was  president  of  the 
Gfymnasium  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  when,  in  1836,  he 
came  to  this  city  as  principal  of  the  Rochester  Col- 
legiate Institute,  located  where  now  stands  the  Third 
Presbyterian  church,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
and  where  many  of  our  leading  citizens  received  their 
early  education,  and  live  to  retain  a  grateful  memory 
of  their  accomplished  and  revered  teacher.  In  the 
year  18 —  Dr.  Dewey  assumed  the  chair  of  Chemistry 
and  Natural  Philosophy  in  the  then  newly  established 
University  of  Rochester,   which  he  held  with  well 


154  CHUECHES   OF   EOCHESTEK. 

known  repute  for  ten  years,  when  he  resigned  its  act- 
ive duties,  though  still  retained  as  Emeritus  Professor. 
As  a  gentleman,  a  scholar,  a  teacher,  a  writer,  and 
christian  divine.  Dr.  Dewey  was  extensively  known 
and  universally  esteemed.  When,  on  the  15th  of 
December,  1867,  he  expired,  at  his  residence  on  Troup 
street,  it  was  felt  that  Rochester  had  lost  a  gifted  resi- 
dent, science  an  acknowledged  master,  the  church  a 
warm-hearted  disciple,  and  his  home  a  cherished 
head. 

suMMcmr,  jzrzr  f,  /87f. 

Pastor — Rev.  Dwiglit  K.  Bartlett. 

Deacons — Messrs.  S.  D.  Porter,  H.  M.  McLean,  P. 
W.  Handy,  and  A.  G.  Bristol. 

Trustees — Messrs.  C.  J.  Hill,  W.  N.  Emerson,  Henry 
Brewster,  Galusha  Phillips,  Erastus  Darrow,  W,  W. 
Ely,  M.D.,  B.  H.  Clark,  S.  B.  Roby,  O.  L.  Sheldon. 

^.  8.  Superintendent — A.  S.  Hamilton. 

Scliolars — 250. 

Church  Meiiibersliip — 300. 

Plymouth  church  has  a  colony  under  the  title  of  the 
Eighth  Ward  Mission  chapel,  on  the  corner  of  Rey- 
nolds and  Tremont  streets.  It  was  organized  as  a 
Sabbath  school  in  February,  1867.  At  the  present 
time  it  has  two  hundred  and  fifty  scholars,  with  thirty- 
two  teachers,  under  the  superintendency  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam B.  Levet.  Cottage  prayer  and  Bible  reading 
meetings  are  held  every  Friday  evening.  An  useful 
future  is  in  hopeful  prospect. 


SINGLE   CHURCHES. 


ZION'S  FIEST  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAIf 
CHURCH. 


This  religions  community  was  organized  with  twenty 
members,  in  the  j^ear  1834,  in  a  frame  house  on  Pio- 
neer street.  A  lot  on  the  corner  of  Grove  and  Still- 
son  streets  being  donated  for  that  purpose,  a  spacious 
brick  edifice  was  erected,  and  is  the  present  place  of 
worship. 

The  Pastors  have  been:  Rev.  John  Muehlauser, 
deceased  ;  Rev.  H.  G.  Kempie,  deceased  ;  Rev.  A. 
Uebelacker,  studying  medicine  ;  Rev.  Fred.  VonRos- 
enberg,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  student  of  Berlin, 
Erlanger  and  Bunn,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1863, 
and  was  installed  pastor  in  1868,  which  position  he  now 
holds  with  efficiency  and  usefulness. 

SUMMA'RT,  JUZr  /,  !87f. 

Pastor — Rev.  Fred.  VonRosenberg. 

Elders — Messrs.  Phillip  Meyer,  John  Bohr,  and 
Julius  Binder. 

Deacons — Messrs.  William  Wagner,  Peter  Hartman, 
Henry  Buhlmann,  John  Unglink,  David  Bartleon, 
Jacob  Margrander,  and  Nicholas  Conrad. 

8.  S.  Superintendent — Jesse  Shepherd,  an  elder  of 
the  Third  Presbyterian  church. 

Scholars — 450.     Communicants — 1, 000. 


GERMAN   UNITED    EVANGELICAL 
CHURCH. 


Was  organized  in  the  year  1842.  The  first  officers 
after  the  incorportion  were  Messrs.  Lorens  Raab, 
Bernhard  Haid,  and  John  G.  Beck  as  trustees ;  Carl 
Rohrig,  Henry  A.  Merlan,  and  Henry  Lux,  deacons ; 
with  Messrs.  George  G.  Bachman,  Jolm  Knodel,  and 
Matthias  Hertel  as  elders.  The  congregation  met  in 
public  halls  and  rented  rooms  until  1847,  when  a 
church  was  built  on  Allen  street,  nearly  opposite  the 
Brick  Presbyterian  church,  where  services  are  still  held. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  C.  F.  Solden,  Rev.  C.  Biehl,  deceased.  Rev. 
Birke,  Rev.  Illiger,  Rev.  C.  Haas,  Rev.  C.  Clawson, 
Rev.  J.  H,  Conradt. 


Pastor — Rev.  Charles  Siebenpfeiffer. 
Elders — Messrs.   Adam  Scliake,   Matthias   Hertel, 
and  L.  Wehn. 


CHURCHES   OF  EOCHESTER.  159 

Deacons — Messrs.  F.  Riickdeschel,  Joseph  Fitzen- 
berger,  Wilhelm  Heiil,  John  Frick,  and  Franz  Harwart. 

-S'.  8.  Superinteddent — Mr.  Thomas  Dransfield. 

Scholars— 200. 

Communicants — 900. 

There  is  a  day  school  with  two  hundred  scholars, 
under  care  of  Messrs.  John  C.  Gauger,  C.Schopper,  and 
Miss  Augusta  Kingsbury, 

The  parish  contains  four  societies  :  one  for  benevo- 
lent and  mutually  benevolent  purposes  ;  another,  con- 
sisting of  married  ladies,  for  relief  of  the  poor ;  an- 
other, containing  young  ladies  alone,  for  promoting 
church  interests  ;  and  a  fourth,  young  men  alone,  lor 
for  educating  and  cultivating  young  men. 


FIRST  GERMxVX  EVANGELICAL  x\SSOCIA- 

TION. 


Lorated  on  St.  Joseph,  corner  Nassau  street  (but 
formerly  on  Stillson  street),  was  organized  in  1848,  by 
Rev,  J.  G,  Marquardt,  now  in  California.  Previous 
to  that  time  several  ministers  of  the  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation, held  services  here,  though  irregularly  and  with 
little  concentration  of  effort.  As  the  ministers  of  this 
body  cannot  stay  in  one  place  more  than  two  years, 
the  following  have  been  here  as 

PASTORS. 

Revs.  J.  Wagner,  J.  Schaaf,  M.  Laner,  L.  Jacoby, 
A.  Klenn,  S.  Weaver,  A.  Miller,  P,  J.  Miller,  G.  Eck- 
hard,  A  Hobswarth, 

suMMji^r,  jzrzr  /,  /sr/- 

Pastor — Rev,  Michael  Lehn. 

8.  S.  Superintendent — Rudolph  Luescher. 

Sc7iolars—200. 

Communicants — 119. 


FIRST  ENGLISH  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 


Was  organized  July  18,  1869,  under  the  ecclesiasti- 
cal  direction  of  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  Reuben  Hill. 
This  reverend  gentlemen  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
a  graduate  of  Pennsylvania  college,  at  Gettysburgh, 
where  he  preached  for  a  time,  and  then  at  Hagers- 
town,  Md.,  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  coming  here  in  Decem- 
ber, 1868,  where  he  has  commenced  an  enterprise 
which  is  destined  to  assume  large  proportions  and  ex- 
ert great  power. 

Pastor — Rev.  Reuben  Hill. 

Elders — Messrs.  C.  M.  Meyer,  and  Charles  Scho- 
maker. 

Beacons — Messrs.  Jacob  Suter,  Frederick  Moser, 
and  G.  W.  Arnold. 

8.  S.  Superintendent — Jesse  Shepherd. 

Scliolars—^QO. 

Communicants — 75. 

Present  place  of  worship,  a  room  in  a  building  on 
Grove,  near  North  street.  A  church  edifice  will,  it  is 
hoped,  ere  long  be  erected  for  the  use  of  this  growing 
society. 


EVANGELICAL  REFORMED  EMANUEL 
CHURCH. 


Was  organized  in  tlie  year  1851 ;  the  edifice  is  locat- 
ed on  Hamilton  Place,  in  the  12th  ward,  near  Mt. 
Hope ;  the  pastor  is  Rev.  Charles  Kuss,  who,  after 
several  years  of  missionary  life  in  Russia,  was  settled 
here  in  the  year  1869 ;  the  Sabbath  school  superin- 
tendent is  Mr.  Jacob  Wentz. 


EVANGELICAL   SAINT   PAUL'S    CHURCH* 


Was  organized  in  1864  ;  the  building  is  located  on 
Fitzhugh  street ;  the  pastor  is  Rev.  Frederick  Heinle, 
who  was  settled  in  1869  ;  the  Sunday  school  superin- 
tendent is  Mr.  C.  A.  Becker.  This  church  is  Luther- 
an in  doctrine  and  form  of  government. 


FIRST  REFORMED  (DUTCH)  CHURCH. 


This  church,  located  on  the  corner  of  Oregon  and! 
Harrison  streets,  was  organized  in  the  year  1848.  The 
founders  were  J.  YanDoven,  Levinus  Yerhagen,  Abra- 
ham Eevnipe,   and  Kots  ;    the  presiding   officer 

being  Rev.  S.  Bolks,  of  the  classis  of  Holland,  Mich. 

The  pastors  have  been  :  Rev.  A.  B.  Yeerhauzen, 
now  at  East  Williamson,  N.  Y. ;  Rev.  W.  C.  Wurt, 
now  at  Lodi,  IST.  Y.  ;  Rev.  A.  Kriekaart,  now  at  Kal- 
amazoo, Mich.  ;  Rev.  Pierre  B.  Bahler,  the  present 
pastor,  was  born  at  Twolle,  Netherlands,  where  his 
father  had  ministered  for  over  forty  years.  After  a 
course  of  education  by  his  parent,  he  preached  in 
Belgium,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Belgium 
Evangelical  Society.  Returning  to  the  Netherlands, 
lie  remained  in  charge  of  two  churches  till  he  came  tO' 
this  country,  October  15,  1869.  At  a  brief  sojourn 
and  ministrations  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  Paterson, 
N.  J.,  he  came  to  this  city  in  March,  1868,  and  is 
earnestly  engaged  in  organizing  his  countrymen  and 
leading  them  in  the  course  of  truth  and  heaven. 

There  is  a  Sabbath  school  of  fifty-six  pupils,  under 
the  superintendency  of  the  pastor.  The  communicants 
are  231.  The  church  belongs  to  the  classis  of  Geneva,, 
and  is  Dutch  Reformed  in  its  policy. 


FIKST  UNIVERSALIST    CHURCH. 


While  Rochester  was  but  a  village,  followers  of  this 
theological  faith  were  accustomed  to  meet  for  worship 
in  the  school  house  and  the  court  room,  the  preachers 

being  Rev. Sampson,  Rev.  Henry  Roberts  (father 

of  George  H.  Roberts,  Esq.),  Rev.  William  Andrews, 
Rev.  Jacob  Chase,  Rev.  T.  B.  Abel,  Rev.  Russell 
Tomlinson,  and  Rev.  Charles  Hammond.  They  then 
worshiped  in  the  Court  street  church,  until  it  was  sold 
to  the  Scotch  Presbyterians.  Being  without  a  place 
of  worship,  Sabbath  school  only  was  continued  in  the 
basement  of  the  Unitarian  church  on  Fitzhugh  street, 
till  the  arrival  of  Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery,  when  they 
resumed  services  in  Minerva  hall,  and  continued  until 
the  erection  of  a  plain  structure  on  Chestnut,  near 
Main  street,  which  has  been  recently  enlarged  and 
beautified  at  great  expense,  being  re-dedicated  March 
22,  1871  —  the  discourse  being  preached  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Saxe,  and  devotional  services  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Mont- 
gomery, Mann,  and  other  clergymen. 

Among  the  founders  and  early  members  of  this 
church  were  Messrs.  Joseph  Wood,  deceased  ;  Isaac 
Heliums, Gilman;  Schuyler  Moses,  John  Bax- 


CHUKCIIES   OF   ROCHESTER.  165 

ter,  John  B.   Beers,   M.D.,  J.   J.   VanZandt,    J.   ¥. 
Boyce,  and  N.  Bingham. 

PASTORS. 

Rev.  George  Montgomery,  a  native  of  Portland, 
Maine,  was  installed  December,  1845,  and  served  eight 
years,  when  ill  health  compelled  his  resignation.  He 
Is  a  resident  of  the  city,  greatly  respected  by  all  who 
know  him. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Tuttle  held  the  position  for  about  six 
years,  and  was  succeeded  by 

Rev.  A.  Saxe,  D.D.,  the  present  scholarly  and  pop- 
ular incumbent,  under  whose  pastorate  the  church  is 
greatly  prospering. 

YOUNG   MEN   WHO   HAVE  ENTERED  THE  MINISTRY. 

Rev.  Stephen  R.  Camp,  now  at  Brooklyn. 
Rev.  William  Vandemark,  now  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 
Rev,  J.  Murray  Bailey,  now  at  Titusville,  Pa. 
Edwin  S.  Corbin,  in  the  Theological  seminary. 

SU3I3IAItY,  JULY  1,  1S71. 

Pastor — Rev.  Asa  Saxe,  D.D. 
Deacons — Messrs  A.    C.   Wilmot  and   George   H. 
Roberts. 
8.  S.  Superintendent — W.  E.  Cooke. 
Scholars— 2Q0. 
Communicants — About  100. 

Note. — The  society  inaugurated  the  now  popular 
custom  of  Sunday  school  railroad  excursions. 


FIRST     UNITARIAN     CONGREGATIONAL 
SOCIETY. 


This  ecclesiastical  body  was  formally  organized 
July  18,  1841.  An  edifice  erected  on  North  Fitzliiigh 
street  in  1842-3,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  November  10, 
1859,  in  consequence  of  which  regular  services  were 
suspended  till  1865,  when  the  corner  stone  of  the 
present  sanctuary,  opposite  the  former,  was  laid  with 
usual  ceremonies,  and  the  house  dedicated  in  1866. 

Pastors  in  succession  have  been  :  Rev.  J.  P.  B. 
Storer,  D.D.,  deceased;  Rev.  F.  A.  AVhitney,  de- 
ceased; Rev.  RufiisDillis,Rev.  Frederick  W.  Holland, 

Rev. Bacon,  deceased  ;    Rev.   W.   Dougherty, 

Rev.  W.  H.  Channing,  Rev.  James  Richardson,  de- 
ceased ;  Rev.  F.  W.  Holland,  B.D.,  a  second  lime, 
during  whose  pastorate  the  present  structure  was  built 
in  1868  ;  Rev.  Clay  McCauley,  Rev .  N.  M.  Mann. 

SUMMARY,  JULY  1,  1871. 

Pastor — Rev.  Newton  M.  Mann. 
Deacon — John  G.  Williams. 

Trustees — Messrs.  J.  L.  Angle,  Joseph  Curtis,  and 
Simon  L.  Brewster. 
>S'.  S.  Superintendent — J.  L.  Angle. 
Pupils — 80.     Communicants — 50. 


EOMAN   CATHOLIC   CHURCHES. 


The  first  Romnn  Catholic  congregation  built  a  stone 
edifice  in  1823,  on  Piatt  street,  near  State,  the  site  of 
the  present  Saint  Patrick' s  cathedral.  Several  clergy- 
men had  charge  of  the  enterprise,  conspicious  among 
whom,  was  Bernard  O'Reilly,  D.D.,  who  was  conse- 
crated Roman  Catholic  Bishop  of  Connecticut  in  1850, 
and  was  lost  at  sea  in  1856. 

It  being  quite  impossible  to  present  a  detailed  nar- 
rative of  each  separate  organization  of  this  large 
ecclesiastical  body,  it  must  suflB.ce  to  append  the  fol- 
lowing names  and  localities  of  churches,  with  the 
oflBciating  ofloicers,  and  various  religious  institutions 
in  charge. 

1.  Saint  Patrick's  Cathedral ;  located  on  Piatt 
street ;  founded  in  1822  ;  officiating  clergy.  Rev.  B.  J. 
McQuaid,  D.D.,  bishop  of  diocese  of  Rochester,  assist- 
ed by  Rev.  Messrs.  J.  M.  Early,  J.  F.  O'Hare,  Nicholas 
Byrne,  and  H.  D.  Regge. 

2.  Saint  Mary' s  church  ;  South,  near  Court  street ; 
founded  in  1842 ;  officiating  ministers.  Rev.  John 
Stewart,  and  James  Mooney. 

3.  Saint  Peter  and  Saint  Paul's  church  ;  Maple 
street,  comer  King  ;  founded  in  1843  ;  officiating  min 
ister.  Rev.  Francis  H.  Sinclair. 


1C8  CHURCHES   OF  ROCHESTER. 

4.  Saint  Joseph' scliurcli,  German  ;  Franklin  street ; 
founded  in  18-16  ;  officiating  ministers,  Rev.  George 
Ruland,  Peter  Croneberg,  Joseph  Clauss,  George 
Korsch,  A.  Pingel,  and  Phillip  Colonel. 

5.  Our  Lday  of  Victory,  French  ;  Pleasant  street ; 
founded  1818  ;  officiating  minister,  Rev.  Joseph  Dole. 

6.  Church  Immaculate  Conception ;  Plymoath 
Avenue ;  founded  1848 ;  officiating  minister.  Rev. 
Patricio  Byrnes. 

7.  SaintBridget's  church  ;  Hand  street;  founded  in 
1854  ;  officiating  minister 

8.  Saint  Bonifacius  church,  German  ;  Grand  street ; 
founded  in  1861  ;  officiating  minister,  Rev.  John 
Flor  Payer. 

9.  Holy  Redeemer's  church  ;  Hudson  street,  corner 
Clifford  ;  officiating  minister,  Rev.  Fidelis  Oberholter. 

RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES  IX  CITY  UNDER  BISHOP  M'qUAID. 

1.  House  of  Redemptorists  ;  adjoining  Saint  Jo- 
seph' s  church  ;   Rev.  George  Ruland,  rector, 

2.  Brothers  of  Mary  ;  Franklin  street. 

3.  School  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame  ;   Andrews  street. 

4.  Convent  and  Academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart ; 
Madame  Barratty,  superior. 

5.  Convent  and  Academy  of  Our  Lady  of  Mercy  ; 
Mother  M.  C  Kelley,  superior. 

6.  Saint  Mary's  Hospital. 

7.  Saint  Mary's  Boy's  Orphan  Asylum. 

8.  Saint  Patrick's  Girl's  Orphan  Asylum. 

9.  Saint  Joseph' s  Orphan  Asylum,  German. 

Ten  schools,  containing  1,448  boys,  and  1,513  girls  ; 
a  large  proportion  are  taught  gratuitously. 


FRIENDS  NO.  1  —  FRIENDS  NO.  2. 


A  society  of  Friends  was  formed  in  1817,  and  a 
meeting  house  was  erected  on  Fitzliugh  street,  oppo- 
site the  Brick  churcb.  In  consequence  of  discussions, 
in  which  tlie  name  of  Elias  Hicks  was  frequently  men- 
i  oned,  another  society  was  formed  in  1828,  called  the 
Orthodox  Friends,  who  erected  a  place  of  worship  on 
Jay  street,  in  a  part  of  the  city  called  Frankfort.  The 
trustees  -  of  this  latter  society  were  Messrs.  Jesse 
Evans,  Silas  Cornel,  and  L.  Atwater.  Of  the  former : 
Messrs.  Samuel  Post  and  Joseph  Green.  So  writes 
Henry  O'Reilly,  Esq.,  in  his  "  Rochester  and  Western 
New  York,"  under  date  of  1838. 

SU3IMABY,  JULY  1,  1871. 

Friends  meeting  house,  Hubbell  Park.  No  names 
of  officers  given  in  the  Directory. 

Friends  meeting  house,  Jay  street  near  Kent. 

Pastor — Jacob  B.  Bell. 

S.  S.  Superintendent — Mr.  Lindley  M.  Murray. 

Mr.  Lindley  M.  Moore  —  father  of  our  distinguished 
townsman,  Edward  M.  Moore,  M.  D. — has  just 
deceased.  In  his  death  the  society  of  Friends  lost  a 
devoted  and  representative  member  ;  the  oppressed  a. 
warm  advocate  ;  community  a  most  worthy  citizen, 
and  a  home  a  cherished  parent  and  kinsman. 


BEKITII  KODESII— AITZ  EAH  NON. 


These  are  tlie  names  of  the  two  Jewish  congrega- 
tions, the  former, 

Berith  Kodesh,  founded  in  1843,  is  located  on  North 
St.  Paul  street,  having  both  as  pastor  and  Sunday 
school  superintendent,  Max  Lansberg. 

Aitz  Kah  ISTon,  founded  in  1870,  and  is  located  on 
St.  Joseph  street,  with Rundbaken  as  pastor. 

Connected  with  these  congregations  are  the  follow- 
ing benevolent  societies : 

1.  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society ;  organized  1850 ; 
president,  Henry  Garson  ;  secretary,  Joseph  Kauff- 
man. 

2.  Ladies'  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society  ;  organized 
1865  ;  president,  Mrs.  A.  Mock  ;  secretary,  Mrs.  H. 
Britenstool. 


SECOND    ADVENT. 


Organized  1867 ;     place  of   worship,    Washington 
HaU. 


YOUNG  MEN 


KOCHESTER  YOUNG  MEN  AND  THE 
CHRISTIAN  MINISTRY. 


NATIVES    OF    EOCHESTEE,    AoSID    THOSE    COMllS'G    HERE 

VEEY    EAELY    IN     LIFE,    WHO    ENTERED    THE 

MINISTEY   AND    BECAME    PASTOES   OR 

FOREIGN    MISSIONARIES. 

Names — Parentage —  Church  Connection — Residences — Alphabetically  Arranged. 

Bush,  Charles  P.,  D.D.— David  Bash;  Pres. ;  Nor- 
wich, Conn.,  Beloit,  AVis.,  Rochester,  Dist.  Sec.  A. 
B.  C.  F.  M.  at  New  York. 

Bush,  George  C. — David  Bush;  Pres.;  Stewarts  and 
Hackelstown,  N.  J.,  Newton,  Pa. 

Bush,  James  S.— O.  N.  Bush  ;  Ep.;  San  Francisco. 

Bishop,  George  S. — W.  S.  Bishop;  Pres.;  N.  Bruns- 
wick, N.  J.,  Newburgh,  N.  Y. 

Benedict,  Wayland  R. — Nehemiah  AY.;  Bap.;  Roch- 
ester. 

Carpenter,  Elisha  M. — Cyril  Carpenter  ;  Pres.;  Roch- 
ester and  New  York  city. 

Cherry,  Ilenr}^ — Pres.;  missionary  at  S.  India;  died 
at  the  south. 

Copeland,  Jonathan — David  Copeland  ;  Pres. ;  Holley, 
N.  Y.,  now  in  Vermont. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  173 

Clarke,  Charles  Russell — Charles  L.  Clarke  ;  Pres. ; 
Prof,  in  Princeton  Coll.,  N.  J.,  San  Francisco,  San 
Diego. 

Chapin,  Henry  B.,  Ph.D. — Moses Chapin;  Pres.;  Steu- 
ben ville,  O.,  Trenton,  N.  J.,  New  York  city, 

Comstock,  Grover  S. — Rev.  O.  Comstock  ;  Bap.;  for- 
eign missionary  in  Burma,  and  died  there. 

Ely,  Joseph  A. — W.  W.  Ely,  M.D. ;  Cong. ;  Rochester. 

Gaylord,  Willis  S.— W.  M.  Gaylord ;  Pres.;  Union 
Corners,  Ossian,  and  Arkport,  N.  Y. 

Green,  Jonathan  S. — Pres.;  missionary  to  the  Sand- 
wich Islands. 

Hall,  Augustus  F.— bro.  of  A.  G.  HaU,  D.D.;  Pres.j 
deceased. 

Hamilton,  Gavin  L. — Pres.;  Pittsford,  Rochester. 

Hall,  Alanson  C. — Pres.;  missionary  in  India:  died 
at  the  south. 

Hunt,  T.  D wight — Simeon  Hunt,  M.D.;  Pres.;  Sand- 
wich Islands,  Ithaca  and  Waterville,  N.  Y.,  Niles, 
Mich.,  San  Francisco. 

Hastings,  Parsons  C. — Orlando  Hastings ;  Pres.;  mer- 
chant in  New  York. 

Jervis,  Kasimir  Pulaski — Asahal  Hatch  Jervis  ;  Meth.; 
after  serving  in  seven  places,  he  is  Presiding  Elder 
of  East  Genesee  Conference. 

Johnson,  Thomas  II. — Pres.;  Bricksburgh,  N.  J. 

Kempshall,  Everard,  D.D. — Thos.  Kempshall ;  Pres.; 
Buffalo  and  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

Lee,  Charles  G. — Charles  M.  Lee;  Pres.;  Syracuse^ 
N.  Y.,  died  in  Rochester. 

Miller,  L.  Merrill,  D.D. —Lewis  Miller;  Pres.;  Bath, 
and  Ogdensburgh,  N.  Y. 


174  CHURCUES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

Miller,  Enoch — Pres. ;  army  chaplain. 
Pierpont,  James  S. — Rev.  Hezekiah  B.  Pierpont;  Ep. 
Peck,  Henry  E. — Everard  Peck;   Pres.;   Rochester, 
Prof,  at  Oberlin  College,  Consul  General  at  Ilayti, 
where  he  died  in  1867. 
Smith,  L.  Ward— S.  O.  Smith;   Ep.;  Albion,  N.  Y., 
Germantown,  Pa.,  (1)  rector  St.  Michael's,  (2)  Hos- 
pital Chaplain,  where  he  died. 
Shaw,  Augustus  C. — Rev.  J.  B.  Shaw,  D.D.;  Pres.; 

Fulton,  N.  Y. 
Starr,  Frederick,  Jr. — Frederick  Starr;   Pres.;  Wes- 
ton, Mo.,  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where 
died  in  1867. 
Strong,  Augustus  H.,  D.D. — Alvali  Strong;  Baptist; 

Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Ward,  George  Kemp — L.  A.  Ward  ;  Pres. ;  licentiate. 
Ward,  F.  DeW.,  D.D.— L.  Ward,  M.D.;  Pres.;  mis- 
sionary in  S.  India,  Geneseo,  chaplain  in  the  army 
during  the  war. 
Winslow,  Horace — Pres.;  Lansingburgh,  N.Y.,  Rock- 
ville  and  New  Britain,   Conn.,   Great  Barrington, 
Mass.,  Williamantic,  Conn. 
Witherspoon,    Orlando   W. — Samuel   Witherspoon  ; 

Ep.;  Buffalo. 
Warren,  Daniel  F.,  D.D. — Ep.;  New  York  city. 

Note. — This  list,  though  long,  is,  we  fear,  not  com- 
plete. Names  are  not  upon  church  records,  and  are 
lost  to  memory,  which  belong  to  this  catalogue.  Omis- 
sions, if  any,  were  beyond  the  author's  power  to  rem- 
edy. Should  a  second  edition  ever  appear,  this  defi- 
ciency, and  others,  can  be  supplied. 


MISCELLANY. 


MISCELLANY. 


LITERARY  AND  ECCLESIASTICAL  PRE- 
FER3IENTS  OF  ROCHESTER  PASTORS. 

Kev.  Dr.  Penny,  Pres.,  Prest.  of  Hamilton  Coll.,  N.Y. 
Rev.  Dr.  Wliiteliouse,  Ep.,  Bishopric  of  Illinois, 
Rev.  Dr.  Lee,  Ep.,  Bishopric  of  Iowa. 
Rev.  Dr.  Neely,  Ep.,  Bishopric  of  Maine. 
Rev.  Dr.  O'Reilly,  R.  C,  Bishopric  of  Connecticut. 
Rev.  Mr.  Logan,  Metli.,  Bishop  at  Syracuse. 
Rev.  Mr.  Bishop,  Metli.,  Bishop  at  New  Jersey. 
Rev.  Dr.  Patterson,  Bap.,  Prest.  of  Waterville  Coll. 
Rev.  Dr.  Mack,  Pres.,  Prest.  of  Tennessee  Coll. 
Rev.  Dr.  Colton,  Ep.,  Prest.  Bristol  Coll. 
Rev.  Dr.  YanRensellaer,  Ep.,  Prest.  DeYeaux  Coll. 
Rev.  Dr.  Edwards,  Pres.,  Prest.  of  Wilson  Coll. 
Rev.  Dr.  Morgan,  Pres.,  Prest.  of  a  Southern  Coll. 
Rev.  Dr.  Parker,  Pres.,  Prest.  Union  Theol.  Sem. 
Rev.  Dr.  Mcllvaine,  Pres.,  Prof,  in  Princeton  Coll. 
Rev.  Dr.  Claxton,  Ep.,  Prof,  in  Phila.  Theol.  Sem. 
Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Wisner,  Pres.,  Mod.  G.  A.  in  1840. 
Rev.  Dr.  W.  C,  Wisner,  Pres.,  Mod.  G.  A.  in  1855. 
Rev.  Dr.  Shaw,  Pres.,  Mod.  G.  A.  in  1863. 
Rev.  Dr.  Comstock,  Bap.,  Chaplaincy  of  Congress. 
Rev.  Dr.  Luckey,  Metli.,  Regent  of  the  State  of  N.  Y. 
Rev.  Dr.  Goodwin, Meth.,  Regent  of  the  State  of  N.  Y. 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  177 

In  addition  to  tliese  are  the  names  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Pease,  Pres.,  Ex-Prest.  of  tlie  Univ.  of  Vt. 
Rev.  Dr.  Yeomans,  Pres.,  Trans' r  of  Lange's  Com. 
Rev.  Dr.  Kendrick,  Bap.,  Trans' r  of  Olshausen,  &c. 
Rev.  Dr.  Dewey,  Con.,  Christian  Scientist  and  Author. 
Rev.  Mr.  Morris,Pres.,Author  of  "Bible  and  Nature.'' 
Rev.  Drs.  Church,  Cheeseman,  Bush,  Mcllvaine,  Wis- 

ner  {W.  C),  Luckey,  Hibbard,  Ward,  Autliors. 


LOJVG  PASTOR ATE8. 

It  is  rare  to  meet  in  our  day  and  land  instances  par- 
rallel  to  those  of  Drs.  Hall  and  Shaw,  of  the  Third 
and  Brick  churches,  each  for  more  than  thirty  years 
pastor  of  the  same  society.  The  two  united  terms 
carry  us  back  to  a  period  when  this  region  was  unset- 
tled but.  "by  the  wolf  and  the  wild  deer,  or  the  red 
hunter,  untutored  and  untamed  as  they."  May  these 
faithful  and  honored  servants  of  God  and  the  people 
long  live  to  advance  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

Drs.  Penny  and  Edwards  were  here  each  ten  years, 
and  Dr.  Whitehouse  fourteen. 


DESIRABLE  CHANGES  OF  USE. 

The  first  theatre  and  the  first  circus  in  the  "  village" 
of  Rochester  were  so  unpopular  as  to  prove  pecuniary 
failures.  After  a  brief  career,  the  former,  located  on 
opposite  Market  street,  was  "converted"  into  a  livery 
stable,  and  the  latter,  on  the  site  of  Aldrich's  carpen- 
ter shop,  into  a  soap  chandler}^  and  then  into  an  iron 
foundry.  In  1838,  neither  circus  nor  theatre  existed 
here. — 0'' ReilliJ' s  History^  p.  111. 


178  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

REVIVALS. 

Our  pulpit  occupants,  from  Drs.  Penny,  Wisner^ 
Parker,  Gumming,  Whiteliouse,  Comstock,  Fillmore, 
and  Tucker,  tlirougli  a  long  line  to  the  present  able 
incumbents,  did  not  "labor  in  vain  and  spend  their 
strength  for  nought."  The  communion  occasions  that 
saw  no  additions  were  "few  and  far  between."  But 
it  was  left  for  those  seasons  when  the  Spirit  came  down 
"like  rain  upon  the  mown  grass,"  to  witness  those  in- 
gatherings of  souls  which  attracted  hither  the  wonder- 
ing eye  of  the  nation,  and  evoked  glad  praises  above. 
The  writer,  in  common  with  many  of  his  readers,  re- 
members, among  the  events  of  early  boyhood,  the 
crowds  that  thronged  the  plain,  unpainted  school 
house  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Union  school ; 
the  space  being  too  limited  to  contain  those  who  met 
to  hear  the  truth  and  bow  in  penitence  and  prayer. 
In  the  year  1830,  Rev.  Charles  G.  Finney  commenced 
preaching  about  the  first  of  September,  which  he  con- 
tinued almost  daily  for  six  months.  The  place  then 
contained  ten  thousand  inliabitants,  of  whom  eight 
hundred  were  hopefully  converted  during  that  me- 
morable winter.  Mr.  Finney  was  again  here  in  1842, 
and  again  in  1856,  with  abundant  and  blessed  results 
attending  his  plain,  direct,  earnest,  bold  declarations 
of  divine  truth.  That  great  and  good  man,  having 
survived  all  the  associates  of  his  middle  life,  is  still 
serving  his  Master  as  pulpit  preacher  and  as  president 
of  Oberlin  college,  Ohio.  The  late  Rev.  Jedediah 
Burchard  was  here  in  1833,  and  again  in  1842,  ad- 
dressing large  assemblages  with  abundant  immediate 


CnrECHES    OF   ROCHESTER.  179 

effects,  though  with  much  that  was  exceptionable  in 
manner,  and  less  that  was  permanently  beneficial  in  re- 
sult. While  Mr.  Finney  addressed  the  intellect,  Mr. 
Burchard  appealed  to  the  passions.  The  one  was  a 
masterly  and  bold  logician ;  the  other  was  the  dramatic 
orator,  holding  wrapt  attention,  and  swaying  feelings 
at  his  will.  Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond  visited  the  city  in 
1863  and  in  1869,  crowding  the  largest  churches  with 
auditors,  especially  the  young.  Strike  from  the  roll 
of  membership  in  the  various  charches  of  this  city  all 
who  have  been  brought  in  during  these  score  or  more 
of  "awakenings,"  and  the  sacramental  army  here 
would  lose  many  of  its  ablest  officers,  with  hundreds 
of  the  most  laborious  in  the  ranks.  Rochester  has 
become  what  it  is  religiously  very  largely  through  the 
agency  of  revivals. 


THE  BIBLE. 


The  Monroe  County  Bible  Society  was  formed  in 
this  city  March,  1821 ;  L.  Ward,  M.D.,  president.  At 
its  fourth  anniversary  a  resolution  was  adopted  to 
place  a  copy  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  in  every  house 
of  the  county  —  a  plan  afterwards  responded  to  by 
the  parent  society  with  reference  to  the  entire  land. 
One  of  our  citizens  contributes  his  $1,000  annually, 
and  others  very  considerable  sums.  Rochester  is  now 
and  has  ever  been  a  cheerful  and  abundant  sustainer 
of  the  American  Bible  Society  and  the  American  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  (Baptist).  Present  depository 
of  American  Bible  Society,  75  State  street. 


180  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

FOREIGN   MISSIONS. 

Rochester  has  had,  during  the  last  forty  years,  rep- 
resentatives of  both  sexes  in  many  continents  and 
islands  beyond  the  sea,  while  its  christian  citizens 
have  contributed  largely  to  sustain  various  missionary 
societies.  Among  the  earlier  missionaries  were  Rev. 
Messrs.  Green,  Comstock,  Cherry,  AYard,  Hunt,  and 
Mrs.  Bishop  (Stone),  Smith  (Chapin),  DeForest  (Sar- 
gent), McKinne}^  (Nelson),  &c. 


TRACTS  AND  BOOKS. 

Monthly  tract  distribution  commenced  here  at  an 
early  day,  and  has  been  continued  with  greater  and 
less  regularity  to  the  present  time.  At  the  depository 
of  the  American  Tract  Society,  on  State  street,  D. 
Grrosvenor,  superintendent,  and  upon  the  shelves  of 
the  various  book  stores,  may  be  found  the  rapidly  ap- 
pearing issues  of  the  various  Boards,  etc.,  of  publi- 
cation, representing  all  aspects  of  religious  doctrine 
and  ecclesiastical  polity.  Two  weekly  religious  pa- 
pers were  for  several  years  published  here,  viz  :  Roch- 
ester Observer,  edited  by  the  late  Samuel  Chip- 
man  ;  and  Genesee  Evangelist,  by  Rev.  A,  G.  Hall,  D. 
D.,  and  subsequently  by  the  late  Rev.  R.  W.  Hill ;  with 
other  journals  more  limited  in  the  number  of  readers 
and  area  of  intiuence. 


SABBATH  SCHOOLS. 


The  youth  of  Rochester   have  always   received   a 
largo  amount  of  mental  and   religious  attention.     If 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  181 

they  do  not  make  good  citizens  and  become  exem- 
plary christians,  the  fault  will  be  their  own.  Each 
Lord's  day  sees  large  rooms,  in  chnrch  and  chapel,^ 
filled  with  children  of  all  ages  and  social  relations, 
receiving  instruction  from  well  qualified  and  faithful 
teachers  who  willingly  forego  their  own  rest  that  they 
may  engage  in  the  voluntary  labor  of  love.  The 
first  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  the  summer  of 
1818,  under  the  direction  of  Messrs.  Peck,  Scofield,. 
and  others,  but  suspended  during  winter.  In  1822 
much  interest  was  awakened  by  a  visit  from  that 
"apostle  of  Sabbath  schools,"  Rev.  Thaddeus  Os- 
good. The  instruction  was  largely  secular,  and  all 
distinctive  views  of  doctrine  carefully  avoided.  In 
1825  the  schools  came  under  their  respective  denomi- 
nations. In  1826  the  Monroe  County  Sunday  School 
Union  was  formed,  and  monthly  concert  on  second 
Monday  of  each  month  established.  The  Genesee 
S.  S.  Union  was  formed  in  1827  ;  Josiali  Bissell,  presi- 
dent, and  the  late  L.  B.  Tousley  (a  name  to  be  men- 
tioned with  esteem  and  gratitude)  acted  as  general 
agent.  A  depository  was  established,  with  L.  A. 
Ward  as  depositary  and  treasurer.  The  Rochester 
City  S.  S.  Union  embraces  thirty  schools  of  Protest- 
ant denominations,  with  an  aggregate  of  996  teachers 
and  8,648  scholars.  The  present  officers  are,  presi- 
dent, Thomas  Dransfield ;  secretary,  A.  H.  Cole. 


TEMPERANCE. 


Rochester  took  an  early  part  in  organized  efforts  at 
suppressing  the  sale  and  use  (as  a  beverage)  of  inebri- 


182  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

ating  liquors.  "The  first  public  resolutions  ever 
adopted  on  the  principle  of  total  abstinence  were 
passed  hy  the  Ontario  Presbytery,  in  a  session  at 
Kochesterville,  in  August,  1827."— (0'i?e«7Z?/'5  Hist., 
■p.  100.)  The  first  mayor  of  the  city  of  Rochester, 
Hon.  Jonathan  Childs,  in  1884,  resigned  his  office 
rather  than  sign  licenses  to  sell  sj^irituous  liquors. 
Rev.  Dr.  Penny,  when  on  a  visit  to  his  native  Ireland, 
was  instrumental  in  organizing  the  first  efforts  for  sup- 
pressing the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  that  land. 
Aristarchus  Champion,  Esq.,  met  the  entire  expenses 
of  Mr.  Chipman,  who,  during  1833-4  travelled  4,400 
miles,  visiting  all  the  penitentiaries,  jails  and  poor 
houses  in  the  State  to  secure  facts  and  disseminate 
information  upon  this  subject.  Colonel  A.  W.  Riley 
spent  two  years  in  Great  Britain  lecturing  to  crowds 
upon  total  abstinence.  Rev.  Dr.  F.  DeW.  Ward 
edited  the  first  paper  in  any  language  of  India  de- 
voted to  the  cause  of  total  abstinence.  The  present 
city  associations  in  advocacy  of  the  cause  of  total  ab- 
stinence, as  a  beverage,  from  all  that  intoxicates  are. 
Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars,  five  lodges. 
Sons  of  Temperance,  Cold  Water  Temple,  Rochester 
Temple  of  Honor. 


FIRES, 

The  church  edifices  destroyed  by  fire  have  been  the 
First  Methodist,  Bethel  (now  the  Central  Presbyterian), 
Second  Baptist,  Saint  Paul's,  Unitarian,  Associate 
Reformed,  Saint  Peter  s  (Presbyterian),  Lake  Avenue, 
Third  Presbyterian,  Christian  where  Plymouth  church 


CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER.  183 

now  stands,  German  Evangelical  subsequently  re- 
built, and  First  Presbyterian  injured  beyond  repair. 
In  most  instances  others  liave  been  erected  more  com- 
modious and  imposing.  Among  the  present  ecclesi- 
astical structures  a  leading  place  belongs  to  the  Saint 
Patrick's,  Saint  Peter's  (Pres.),  Third  Presbyterian, 
Second  Baptist,  Brick,  Central,  Plymouth,  with  First 
Presbyterian,  First  Baptist,  and  Calvary  now  in  course 
of  erection. 


BENEVOLENT  AND  CHRISTIAN  INSTI- 
TUTIONS. 

Female  Charitable  Society. — Organized  1822.  Pres- 
ident, 1871,  Mrs.  Maltby  Strong. 

Home  for  the^Friendless. — Organized  1849.  Presi- 
dent, 1871,  Mrs.  Selah  Matthews.  Building  on  East 
avenue,  corner  Alexander  street. 

Orphan  Asylum. — Organized  1837.  President,  1871, 
Mrs.  Lysander  Farrer. 

Church  Home  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
of  Rochester. — Organized  1868.  President,  1871,  Mrs, 
George  H.  Mumford. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ROCHESTER. 
President — Martin  B.  Anderson,  LL.D. 

Professors — Asahel  C.  Kendrick,  D.D.,  A.  Judson 
Sage,  S.  A.  Latimore,  A.  H.  Mixer,  J.  F.  Quinby, 
LL.D.,  J.  H.  Gilmore,  Henry  A.  Ward,  and  Otis  H. 
Robinson.     Students,  121. 


184  CHURCHES   OF   ROCHESTER. 

ROCHESTER  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 

President  and  Theological  Professor — Rev.  E.  G. 
Robinson,  D.D, 

Professors — Rev.  Horatio  B.  Hacket,  Rev.  J.  W. 
Buckland,  D.D.,  Rev.  George  H.  Whittemore,  and 
Rev.  Augustus  Rausclienbush  (in  the  German  depart- 
ment).    Students,  71. 


RAPID  CHURCH  ERECTION. 

The  Third  Presbyterian  church  and  the  Court  street 
church  were  erected,  the  former  in  one  week  and  the 
other  in  one  month  from  the  time  in  which  the  trees 
were  standing  in  the  forest.  Josiah Bissell,  Esq.,  and 
Colonel  A.  W.  Riley  were  the  executive  officers  in 
these  rapid  movements.  The  buildings  stood  for  many 
years,  and  answered  their  purposes  completely. 


FALL  OF  A  STEEPLE. 

When  Saint  PauF  s  was  erected  the  spire  was  to  be 
two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  feet  in  height.  All 
went  on  hopefully,  but,  alas,  without  success.  It  was 
mid-day.  Providentially  the  twenty  or  more  work- 
men were  at  their  homes.  A  gust  came  careening  from 
the  west.  For  a  few  moments  it  met  the  attack  nobly. 
A  second  onset,  fiercer  than  the  former,  was  too  much, 
and  the  stately  column  fell  back  upon  the  roof,  injuring 
nothing  but  the  building,  and  leading  to  a  change  in 
the  finish  above  the  tower. 

THE     END. 


By  RK\.  F.   De  \V.  WARD. 

PUBLISHED  BY  ERASTU8  DARRO  W  &  BROTHER,  Rochester,  N.  Y, 

199  pp— 32  mo.    Neat  Muslin  3Ic.,  Gilt  Edge  373ic. 


NOTICES  BY  PERSONS  AW D  PERIODICALS. 

Bev.  Dr.  A.    T.   Ckcster,  Buffalo, — •'  I  have    felt  the  need   of  just  sucli  a 

book  to  distribute  among  tlie  young  people  of  my  cliarge.  The  Author  lias  done  a  good 
work." 

Rev.  Dr.  Shaw,  Rochester. — "  The  counsels  are  most  judicious,  the  illus- 
trations new  and  graphic,  the  style  sincere  and  Mmple;  and  the  wiiole  hook  u  piece  of  joinery 
of  wliich  i.o  man.  need  be  ashamed.     1  know  of  no  baok  of  the  kind,  to  be  preiered  belure  it." 

Rev.  J.  H.  Mcllvaine. — "  This  iiiteiesting  little  book  hy  the  Pastor  of  the 
Ciiurchat  Geneseo,  i\.  \.,  is  adniiraljly  aduptud  to  tne  wants  of  j  oung  Christians.  Care- 
fully read  it  cannot  but   prove  helpful,  in  any  .sta-^e  of  spintuul  life." 

Rev.   Dr.    Van  Rensselaer,  of  Philadelphia,  in  Pres.  Magazine — "  A  great 

ma.iy  useful  thoughts  are  thrown  out  in  a  manner  indnating  discrunination,  an  acquaimance 
VMih  iiumaii  niture,  an  aflectionate  spirit,  and  u  well  stored  and  vigorous  mind.  Such  a  vol- 
ume vviil  do  good  wherever  it  rinds  il  s  way," 

Rev.  Wm.  Lusk,  Baiavla. — "  It  is  a  cogent  exposition  of  principles,  en- 
forced by  touching  historical  and  niograiil.ical  inc^idcnls.  1  know  of  nothiiigol  the  6ame  size 
wiiicii.  next  to  ilie  IJible,  eould  ne  so  useful  to  tlKJse  in  the  morning  of  lite.  1  hope  that  a 
copy  of  It  vmH  be  f.juiid  lu  every  family." 

Rev.   H.  Kendall,  Blooinfiell. — "  I  am  greatly  pleased  with  the  minuteness 

of  its  ins^tnictions.  1  am  sau.stird  that  many  a  biuk  designed  lor  the  young  fails  to  aceom- 
pl  .--Il  any  good,  because  it  .simply  doals  with  general  principles.  The  '  more  excellent  way'  is 
here  au.ipiea  oi  oli«-ring  the  principle   to  the  details  ol  every  day  life." 

C.  R.  Robert,  Esq.,  of  Xeto-YorJc  Cit]),  ordering  fifty  copies,  savs, — 
"  Itis  just  the  boiiK  we  need  anumg  the  young  Chrisiians  of  this  city." 

Rev.  D.  Chichester,  of  Mt.  Morris,  calls  it  "a  book  for  the  times,  and  calcu- 
lated to  do  much  good." 

Samud  J.  Mills,  Esq.,  of  iMt  Mori  is,  Ordering  copies,  Pa}.«, — '-The  sub- 
jects an  trtaled  in  a  .^lylr  p  ::)n  and  loriiblc  vsi'ihan  (  cta^iunal  aiiK-dole,  winch  is  not  only 
eiitcrtmiiii  g,  i.iil  stnkiiii.ij  illustrative,  'J  he  LiMc  Class  and  >iuid:iy  fcchool  Jeaclicr  will 
look  in  \aiii  lor  a  luori-  ^uiiubie  gill  to  the  inieiiij,*  nl  joLlh  ol  tkiii  tliargc." 

Rev.  Dr.  Dale,oi  IMii  adeiphia,  in  the  Christian  Instiuctor,    (Associate  !>e- 

fornied.) — •'  A  well  txi  cnled  intle  vs  ork,  writliri  with  unusual  interest  and  priictjoal  good 
sense.     It  should  be  in  the  hai:ds  ol  all  our  youth,   iind  we  are  persuaded  will  uo  good." 

Rev.   L.  Spauldinff,.   Miss,  at  Ceylon.  India,  says, — "  I  intend  to  name  it  to 

my  friends  here  and  eisewhere,  us  just  sucha  book  as  they  should  have  and  read:— a///-ac/i- 
( al  vade  mtiuiii."  : 

Genesee  Evangelist,  Rochester — Rev.  R.  W.  Hill,  Editor. — "  Tlie  mechani- 
cal execution  and  c.»iii(ni«  of  tills  litiie  work  render  it  worthy  of  extensive  circulation. — 
'J'iie  style  is  easy,  the  senUmenls  sound,  and  the  advice  judicious." 

Wm.  Slocianb.  Esq.,  of  Marietta,  Ohio,  <  rdering  copies,  says, — "I  am  desi- 
rous to  put  a  copy  iiiio  ilic  iiaiid  ol  i  nch  of  the  young  hu.ies  ol  my  Cible  class,  ns  containing 
just  tlie  instructions  1  vvou.d  gue  them.  I  wisti  that  a  coji^  eouid  be  in  the  hand  of  every 
youth  in  our  land." 

Nalionul  Magazine,  (N.  Y.  and  Cin.) — "  A  delightful  volume,  written 
\\\X\i  life  and  point,  the  veiy  kmd  of  manual  for  tliejoting  Chiistiiiii.  'J  he  spirit  of  the  book 
is  excellent — suchas  the  Great  '1  eachor  hiiiisell   would  approve." 

Brewster's  insurance  Rcpcrler . — "  This  little  gem    should    be  in  the  pos- 

sf-esion  ofalloiir  jouth.  Many  valuable  principles  nre  developed  in  it  and  usdul  st;gges- 
tions  made.     Co  and  buy  it." 

Notices  iiiight  be  quoted  from  tl.c  N  .  Y.  Evangelist  and  Observer,  nnd  In- 
dependent, from  the  I'hiludelphia  I'resbj tcrinn,  Hoston  Coiigregatioiialisl,  ^evv-Ellglander, 
%u4  viuu>uii  ps4>«i«-iu  Qtker  Farts  of  th«  Union,  all  in  the  style  ol  approval  and  commendation. 


X  IV  r>  I  j!\. 

AND     THE     HINDOOS: 

BEING    A    rOPULAU     VIEW    OF     THE    GEOGRAPHT,     HISTORY,      GOVERNMENT, 

MANNERS,      CUSTOMS    AND    RELIGION    OF    THAT    ANCIENT    PEOPLE; 

WITH    AN    ACCOUNT    OF    CHRISTIAN     MISSIONS    AMONG    THEM. 

WITH  A  NEW    AND  CORRECT  MAP  OF  INDIA TOGETHER 

WITH  FINISHED  ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  A  PALANQUIN 

TONJON HOOK     SWINGING SACRED    BULL 

NATIVE     HOUSE,    BOAT,    &C.,    <feC. 


By  F.  De  W.  WARD,   late  Missionary   among  them. 

PUBLISHED  BY  CHARLES  SCRIBNER,  145  NASSAU  STREET,  K  Y. 

341  pp.— 12  mo.    Muslin  §1  '25,  Gili  $1  T5. 


abridgi::d  notices  of  the  press. 
JVew-York  Spectator. — "  Li  few  volumes  of  its  size  will  be  found  so  mucli 

valuable  infurmution." 

JVcvj-York  Uxjjress. — "A  very  interesting  work,  the  production  of  a  New- 
Yorker  and  a  man  ol  science  and  schoJarship.     TJie  work  must,  we  lliink,  have  a  wide  sale." 

Neiv-York  Courier  and  Enquirer. — "A  work  of  decided  value  and  inter- 
est." 

JSIew-York   Tribune. — "The  condition  of  India  as  it  was  and  is,    both  in  a 

secular  and  religious  aspect,  is  portrayed  at  lenglli  Willi  much  liveliness  and  strenglli  ol' de- 
scription." 

2ieic-York   Observer. — "The  Avriter  of  (bis  work  had  the   best  opportunities 

of  Uhderstaiidiiig  V  ell  Ins  &u  jt  ct  and  he  evidently  iiniJioved  tliem  to  good  purpose.  'J'he 
book  contains  u  vast  aiiiounl  of  useful  mfonnalioii  on  general  subjects,  while  it  is  an  import- 
oni  conlriliution  to  the  cause  of  foreign  missions.'' 

]\h'w-York  Evangelid. — "These  sketches  arc  remarkably  full  of  instruction 

and  present  a  complete  and  striking  view  of  the  pcculiarilies  of  the  Hindoos." 

Genesee  Evangelist.,  (Rochester.) — "The  work  is  really,  Avhat  it  purports  to 
be  on  the  title  page,  'i'he  Aulhoris  evidently  maister  of  his  subject  and  tells  wliat  he  has  to 
say  in  a  direct,  pleasing  and  digiiilied  manner.  The  person  who  cannot  reud  it  through  with 
unabated  interest,  must  suspect  some  fault  in  himself.  ' 

Neiv-\ork  Jovrnal  of  Commerce. — "  A  good  book  on  hidia  and  the  Hin- 
doos and  one  vvhicli  supplies  a  long  felt  desiderattnm.  ' 

jVeto-York  Churchman. — ''  A  pleasing,  instructive  and  candid  volume.  Wa 
know  of  no  work  where  the  same  amount  of  useful  information  respecting  the  people  of  In- 
dia is  conveyed  in  so  compact  a  space  and  at  the  same  lime  in  so  agreeable  a  manner." 

Presb'jierian,  (Phiiadeljdiia.) — "A  well  prepared  volume  and  valuable  ■work." 

Graharri's  Magazine,  (Philadelphia.) — '  A  volume  full  of  interest.'' 

American  d;  Foreign  Christian  Union,  (K  Y.) — " 'ihe  chapters  on  the 
means  of  advancing  chri>t"ianity  in  Jndia  and  the  ellorls  that  have  been  made  for  the  purpose, 
are  peculiarly  valuable." 

3Iissiona7-i/ Herald,  (Boston.) — "A   very  interesting  and  instructive   work. 

It  is  all  tliat  it'n  title prct/iisfs  and  will  be  sought  for,  no  doubt,  by  ninny  readers." 

Buffalo   Commercial  Advertiser. — "  A  work   in  which    all  classes  of  persons 

will  lind  nn  interest  and  is  on  important  contribution  to  our  literary  fund." 

Rochester  American. — "  The  work  meets  with  groat  favor  from  the  reading 
public,  as  was  anti«ipated  by  the  friend*  of  the  Author." 


